Updates in the diagnostics and treatment of sepsis and septic shock (Diagnostics and treatment of sepsis and septic shock)

Sepsis is a life-treathening organ dysfunction caused by an inadequate host response to infection. Sepsis and septic shock represent a major public health problem, affecting millions of people each year worldwide, leading to a lethal outcome in one out of four patients. Despite the advancements of modern medicine, the incidence of sepsis is increasing with costly treatment and a significant mortality. Early identification of patients and an adequate initial resuscitation are of vital importance. Accordingly, sepsis has been proclaimed a medical emergency on October 1st 2011, together with the myocardial infarction, stroke and polytrauma. Despite a tremendeous importance of early recognition, sepsis is still underdiagnosed and undertreated. Non-specific clinical presentation of sepsis represents an obstacle for a timely diagnosis. Surviving Sepsis Campaign released the new updated guidelines for diagnosis and treatment of sepsis and septic shock, based on a new evidence from numerous clinical studies. The recommendations are related to treatment of adult hospitalized patients with sepsis. Regardless, an individual clinical assessment is still the cornerstone of treatment in many cases. It is extremely important to implement bundles of care during the initial phase of this time-dependent clinical syndrome.