Prioritize Diagnoses: Infections First

When evaluating a patient with fever, particularly in an ICU setting, the approach should prioritize infections, as they necessitate the most immediate intervention. Hospital-acquired infections, such as ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), bloodstream infections, Clostridium difficile infections, and surgical site infections, represent the largest category of concerns. A focused investigation should emphasize common pathogens like pyogenic bacteria and candida, while also remaining open to less frequent infections that may require consideration following an initial workup.