Antibiotic therapy for septic jugular thrombophlebitis

For patients with septic jugular thrombophlebitis who have sepsis or septic shock, start antibiotic therapy within 1 hour of presentation to medical care or, for ward-based patients, development of sepsis or septic shock. Antibiotics should be administered immediately after blood samples are taken for culture. If appropriate, collect a throat or abscess swab as soon as possible (see Investigations for septic jugular thrombophlebitis); however, do not delay antibiotic administration to do so. For nonantibiotic management of sepsis or septic shock, see Resuscitation of patients with sepsis or septic shock.

For patients with hospital-acquired septic jugular thrombophlebitis, treat as for hospital-acquired sepsis or septic shock of unknown source. For treatment regimens, see:

• adults – Hospital-acquired sepsis or septic shock of unknown source in adults
• children – Hospital-acquired sepsis or septic shock of unknown source in children 2 months or older.

The following empirical regimens for septic jugular thrombophlebitis are included in this topic:

• standard regimen for adults
• standard regimen for children
• penicillin hypersensitivity regimens for adults and children.