Sepsis

Abstract

Sepsis accounts for approximately one in three hospital deaths, and is associated with very high health care costs due to prolonged lengths of stay in the intensive care unit and hospital. Sepsis is essentially an immunologic response to infection that is propagated systemically, leading to diffuse cellular and microcirculatory dysfunction, vasodilation, vital organ hypoperfusion, and eventual failure. This review covers the pathophysiology, stabilization/assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and disposition and outcomes of sepsis. Figures show the inflammatory and thrombotic response to infection, the action of nitric oxide on vascular smooth muscle cells, accelerated glycolysis and increased lactate production as a result of the catecholamine surge seen in septic shock, sepsis mortality associated with number of organ failures identified in the emergency department (ED), and protocolized therapy for septic shock. Tables list definitions of sepsis syndromes; frequently cited scoring systems for mortality prediction in emergency department patients with sepsis; Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score; current recommendations regarding treatment bundles at 3 and 6 hours of resuscitation; antibiotic recommendations based on suspected source; and vasopressors used in septic shock with recommended dosing, mechanism of action, and indications. This review contains 5 figures, 7 tables, and 57 references. Keywords: Sepsis; Surviving Sepsis Campaign guidelines, definitions, SEP-1 sepsis quality measure, time-to-antibiotics, volume resuscitation, lactated ringers