Update on Diagnosis and Management of Severe Sepsis and Septic Shock

Since 1992 consensus recommendations have defined sepsis as a known or suspected infection plus systemic manifestations of infection, and originally included only the sepsis inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS). A decade later the definition was broadened to include other systemic manifestations of sepsis. The newer definition encouraged identification of patients with moist severe systemic manifestations of infection. The 3rd Sepsis Definitions Consensus Conference in 2015 redefined sepsis to simplify the terminology and definitions based on analyses conducted using several large databases. The last fifteen years have been a remarkable time in the evolution of management principles for severe sepsis and septic shock. It is generally agreed that early identification, early antibiotics and early fluid resuscitations are paramount to decreasing mortality of severe sepsis and septic shock.