Sepsis

A 49 y.o. man with HIV is admitted to the wards with a pneumonia. Shortly thereafter, he becomes profoundly hypotensive and confused. You have correctly identified septic shock in this patient. Here are some “light readings” about sepsis:

• Septic Shock (Lancet 2005 Jan 1-7;365(9453):63-78.) – Landmark review which defines “flavours” of sepsis along the continuum
• Long-term Cognitive Impairment and Functional Disability Among Survivors of Severe Sepsis (JAMA 2010 Oct 27;304(16):1787-94.) – a great article which describes some long-term sequelae of sepsis. Septic shock survivors have worsened cognitive ability and disability
• Surviving Sepsis Campaign – a website of an international consortium, whose goal is to improve treatment of sepsis