Contributor: Don Stader, MD

Educational Pearls:

• Time can be an important factor in outcomes regarding sepsis including mortality
• Emphasis has grown on early administration of antibiotics and IV fluids in sepsis
• However, early initiation of vasopressors for hypotensive patients may have significant mortality benefit as well

References

Hayden GE, Tuuri RE, Scott R, et al. Triage sepsis alert and sepsis protocol lower times to fluids and antibiotics in the ED. Am J Emerg Med. 2016;34(1):1-9. doi:10.1016/j.ajem.2015.08.039

Colling KP, Banton KL, Beilman GJ. Vasopressors in Sepsis. Surg Infect (Larchmt). 2018;19(2):202-207. doi:10.1089/sur.2017.255

Colon Hidalgo D, Patel J, Masic D, Park D, Rech MA. Delayed vasopressor initiation is associated with increased mortality in patients with septic shock. J Crit Care. 2020 Feb;55:145-148. doi: 10.1016/j.jcrc.2019.11.004. Epub 2019 Nov 9. PMID: 31731173.

Summarized by Jackson Roos, MS4 | Edited by Erik Verzemnieks, MD

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