TY - CHAP M1 - Book, Section TI - Sepsis, Septic Shock, and Multiple Organ Failure A1 - McCulloh, Russell J. A1 - Opal, Steven M. A2 - Oropello, John M. A2 - Pastores, Stephen M. A2 - Kvetan, Vladimir PY - 1 T2 - Critical Care AB - KEY POINTSSepsis is increasing in incidence worldwide. This is the result of a number of factors including: the aging of the population with a large increase in patients more than 65 years; progressive increase in antibiotic resistance; increased reliance on implanted devices, organ transplantation and other invasive surgical procedures; and increasing prevalence of patients with long-term immunosuppressive diseases and medications who are at risk for severe infection and sepsis.Sepsis is a syndrome consisting of a constellation of signs, symptoms, hemodynamic, and laboratory findings caused by an excessive and/or dysfunctional host immune response to severe infection. There is currently no single diagnostic test sufficient to make a definitive diagnosis of sepsis.The key to optimal care of the septic patient is early recognition and early initiation of appropriate treatment. This places the responsibility for early recognition on the health care team in managing acutely ill patients. The lack of a rapid diagnostic test and the often subtle initial presentation of sepsis make the early detection of sepsis a real challenge.Septic shock is a medical emergency and should be treated as such. The major therapeutic approach is aggressive fluid resuscitation, early and appropriate antibiotic therapy, early determination of the source of the causative infection site and source control if possible (drain abscess, remove necrotic tissue or infected catheters or other devices, etc).The prevention and expert management of organ dysfunction as a result of sepsis is critical for survival and prevention of long-term disability. Expert supportive care by critical care specialists will improve outcomes. SN - PB - McGraw-Hill Education CY - New York, NY Y2 - 2024/03/19 UR - accessmedicine.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1136415642 ER -