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Fast Five Quiz: Refresh Your Knowledge on Key Aspects of Sepsis
Richard H. Sinert, DO
June 07, 2018
Sepsis is defined as life-threatening organ dysfunction due to dysregulated host response to infection. Organ dysfunction is defined as an acute change in total Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score greater than 2 points secondary to the infection cause. Septic shock occurs in a subset of patients with sepsis and comprises an underlying circulatory and cellular/metabolic abnormality that is associated with increased mortality. Septic shock is defined by persisting hypotension that requires vasopressors to maintain a mean arterial pressure of 65 mm Hg or higher and a serum lactate level greater than 2 mmol/L (18 mg/dL) despite adequate volume resuscitation.
Detrimental host responses to infection occupy a continuum that ranges from sepsis to severe sepsis to septic shock and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS). The specific clinical features depend on where the patient falls on that continuum. Patients with sepsis may present in a myriad of ways, and a high index of clinical suspicion is necessary to identify subtle presentations.
Do you know important attributes of sepsis presentation, diagnosis, and treatment? Test your knowledge with this quick quiz.