In a patient with leg infection and systemic signs suggesting sepsis, what is the recommended action?

• A. Continue outpatient antibiotics
• B. Transfer to ED
• C. Discharge home with fluids
• D. Schedule follow-up in 2 days

Answer: (B)

When infection is accompanied by systemic signs, sepsis is a real possibility and requires urgent evaluation and treatment. The best move is to transfer the patient to the emergency department so they can quickly triage, establish IV access, draw labs (like CBC, CMP, lactate), get blood cultures and necessary imaging, and start sepsis protocol immediately with fluids and broad-spectrum antibiotics if indicated. The ED team can continuously monitor for blood pressure changes, organ dysfunction, and the need for hospital admission or ICU care.

Continuing outpatient antibiotics or discharging with fluids wouldn’t provide the urgent monitoring and immediate treatment sepsis demands. Delaying care until a follow-up appointment in a couple of days risks progression to septic shock or other complications.