A 70-year-old woman is brought to the ED with altered mental status, fever (102.5°F), heart rate 110/min, respiratory rate 24/min, and blood pressure 80/40 mmHg. Her lactate is 5.8 mmol/L. After initiating intravenous fluids, which of the following is the MOST appropriate next step in management?
✓ Correct Answer: Option A
This patient presents with septic shock. After initial fluid resuscitation, prompt administration of broad-spectrum antibiotics is critical and time-sensitive to improve outcomes, ideally within one hour of sepsis recognition.