Severe sepsis/septic shock is a devastating disease process and a medical emergency with a mortality of 20-46%.
Sepsis, severe sepsis, and septic shock have established definitions since 1992.
Early aggressive intravenous fluid resuscitation, obtaining blood cultures before antibiotics, antibiotics given as early as possible (<1 hr), pressors as needed, lactate clearance of >10% (or CVP/ScVO2 saturation measurement goals) are the goals of treatment for patients with severe sepsis/septic shock in the first 6 hours.
After the onset of severe sepsis and septic shock: Time (to treatment) means organ (function/preservation) and the use of the sepsis bundles save lives!
The treatment must begin immediately and does not initially require a central line.
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