Sepsis and septic shock
Topic: Medical-surgical
Sepsis is life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection. In septic shock, vasopressors are needed to keep mean arterial pressure at 65 mmHg or above despite adequate fluids, and lactate is above 2 mmol/L. Fever or hypothermia, tachycardia, tachypnea, confusion and hypotension are warning signs. Early recognition saves lives: obtain cultures and start antibiotics and fluids without delay.
- Also known as:
- Sepsis, Septic shock
- In Turkish:
- Sepsis ve septik şok
What does Sepsis and septic shock mean?
Sepsis and septic shock is part of the Medical-surgical topic in nursing. Students meet it in class, on clinical placements and while preparing for exams.
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Related terms
Sources
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- Open RN, Nursing Fundamentals 2e (CC BY 4.0)
- Singer et al., The Third International Consensus Definitions for Sepsis and Septic Shock (Sepsis-3) (JAMA, 2016)
- Evans et al., Surviving Sepsis Campaign: International Guidelines for Management of Sepsis and Septic Shock 2021 (Intensive Care Medicine, 2021)