Focus on Early Antibiotics in Septic Patients

New evidence in sepsis management will have hospitals rethinking their septic shock protocols.

The Surviving Sepsis Campaign will continue to improve treatment of septic patients. Bundles include fluids, antibiotics, and pressors, if needed. And early goal-directed therapy (EGDT), which implements these quickly, continues to be the push.

Early goal-directed therapy is challenging to implement and leads to higher rates of fluid, blood, and pressor administration. Older evidence pointed to lower mortality...but new data suggest outcomes aren't better. It may be that we have just gotten better at identifying and treating sepsis.