Action
- Obtain laboratory studies:
- CBC
- ESR
- CRP
- Blood cultures
- Order emergent MRI
- Emergent consultation with spine surgeon (neurosurgery or orthopedics)
- Administer antibiotic as soon as blood cultures obtained
- Most cases of SEA are caused by MSSA, though there have been increasing rates of MRSA, so IV vancomycin along with a broad-spectrum IV antibiotic such as ceftriaxone or meropenem should be started as empiric therapy until treatment can be guided by the culture results.
All the above represent Class I recommendations
