Sepsis Management

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Sepsis Management

Sepsis is a medical emergency. For patients with possible septic shock or a high likelihood for sepsis, antibiotics should be administered immediately, ideally WITHIN ONE HOUR of recognition. The choice of agents should be based on the likely organisms and the likely source of infection based on clinical findings.  Appropriate microbiological specimens must be taken to guide antimicrobial therapy.  Blood cultures and other appropriate specimens should be obtained prior to administration of antibiotics if possible.  Antibiotics recently used in the patient’s care should not be among the choices for empiric therapy.

Please refer to the HSE Inpatient Sepsis Algorithms in use in the hospital.  See also the National Clinical Guideline on Sepsis Management for Adults (including maternity) 2021 , the Surviving Sepsis Campaign: International Guidelines for Management of Sepsis and Septic Shock 2021 and International Guidelines for the Management of Septic Shock & Sepsis-Associated Organ Dysfunction in Children (SSCGC) .

Sepsis 6 for Adults (except Maternity)

Image reproduced from the National Clinical Guideline on Sepsis Management for Adults (including maternity) 2021 . Please note there is a separate "Sepsis 6 + 1" protocol for maternity.

Sepsis 6+1 for Maternity

Image reproduced from the National Clinical Guideline on Sepsis Management for Adults (including maternity) 2021 .

Sepsis 6 for Paediatrics

Image reproduced from the International Guidelines for the Management of Septic Shock & Sepsis-Associated Organ Dysfunction in Children (SSCGC) .

References