Some key aspects of Surviving sepsis

The key recommendations covering all aspects of sepsis treatment were outlined in the 2008 update on Surviving sepsis campaign. This is a tribute to my 2 month CU rotation which I completed this week.....


Early goal-directed resuscitation of the septic patient during the first 6 hrs after recognition (1C)
Blood cultures before antibiotic therapy (1C);
 Imaging studies performed promptly to confirm potential source of infection (1C); 
Administration of broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy within 1 hr of diagnosis of septic shock (1B) and severe sepsis without septic shock (1D);
 Reassessment of antibiotic therapy with microbiology and clinical data to narrow coverage, when appropriate (1C); a usual 7–10 days of antibiotic therapy guided by clinical response (1D);
 Source control with attention to the balance of risks and benefits of the chosen method (1C);
 Administration of either crystalloid or colloid fluid resuscitation (1B);
 Fluid challenge to restore mean circulating filling pressure (1C); reduction in rate of fluid administration with rising filing pressures and no improvement in tissue perfusion (1D); Vasopressor preference for norepinephrine or dopamine to maintain an initial target of mean arterial pressure ≥65 mm Hg (1C); dobutamine inotropic therapy when cardiac output remains low despite fluid resuscitation and combined inotropic/vasopressor therapy (1C);
 Stress-dose steroid therapy given only in septic shock after blood pressure is identified to be poorly responsive to fluid and vasopressor therapy (2C); 
Recombinant activated protein C in patients with severe sepsis and clinical assessment of high risk for death (2B except 2C for postoperative patients).
 In the absence of tissue hypoperfusion, coronary artery disease, or acute hemorrhage, target a hemoglobin of 7–9 g/dL (1B);
 A low tidal volume (1B) and limitation of inspiratory plateau pressure strategy (1C) for acute lung injury (ALI)/acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS); 
Application of at least a minimal amount of positive end-expiratory pressure in acute lung injury (1C); head of bed elevation in mechanically ventilated patients unless contraindicated (1B); avoiding routine use of pulmonary artery catheters in ALI/ARDS (1A);
 To decrease days of mechanical ventilation and ICU length of stay, a conservative fluid strategy for patients with established ALI/ARDS who are not in shock (1C);
 Protocols for weaning and sedation/analgesia (1B); using either intermittent bolus sedation or continuous infusion sedation with daily interruptions or lightening (1B); avoidance of neuromuscular blockers, if at all possible (1B);
Institution of glycemic control , targeting a blood glucose <150 mg/dL after initial stabilization (2C);
 Equivalency of continuous veno-veno hemofiltration or intermittent hemodialysis (2B); 
prophylaxis for deep vein thrombosis (1A); 
Use of stress ulcer prophylaxis to prevent upper gastrointestinal bleeding using H2 blockers (1A) or proton pump inhibitors (1B); and consideration of limitation of support where appropriate (1D).


Our hospital has a Sepsis alert system whereby anyone getting into ER with tachycardia and fever will be eligible for a STAT call to the ICU resident (which was unfortunately 'I' for the last 2 months!!). http://www.survivingsepsis.org/About_the_Campaign/Documents/Final%2008%20SSC%20Guidelines.pdf