Clinical QuickieInfectious Disease
Sepsis — Infection ≠ Sepsis
Sepsis requires infection plus organ dysfunction.
Infection alone is not sepsis
Fever, leukocytosis or a positive culture can occur without organ dysfunction.
Look for the organ change
Hypotension, altered mentation, hypoxemia, AKI, thrombocytopenia, hyperbilirubinemia and lactate abnormalities can signal systemic impact.
Trend matters
A previously stable patient developing new organ dysfunction is different from a chronically abnormal baseline.
Treat the syndrome promptly
When sepsis is suspected, source identification, appropriate antimicrobials, hemodynamic support and source control become time-sensitive.
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