The combination of fluid-resistant
hypotension requiring vasopressors
and hyperlactataemia is associated
with a mortality of 42.3%
above moderate diagnostic value for sepsis. 23
These were procalcitonin, C-reactive protein,
interleukin 6, soluble triggering receptor
expressed on myeloid cells-1, presepsin,
lipopolysaccharide-binding protein and CD64.
Further research is necessary to identify
biomarkers with higher sensitivity/specificity,
or a combination of multiple biomarkers.
score from the patient’s baseline. The qSOFA
score can aid clinicians in the identification
of those patients with infection who are at
higher risk of poor outcomes, however, qSOFA
should not be used as a diagnostic tool for
sepsis. Septic shock is a subset of sepsis with
profound circulatory, cellular and metabolic
abnormalities, which is identified clinically as
the requirement for vasopressors to maintain
a mean blood pressure ≥65mmHg and ongoing
hyperlactataemia despite adequate fluid
resuscitation. 3 Further research is necessary to
identify biomarkers with higher sensitivity and
specificity for the diagnosis of sepsis.
Conclusions
Sepsis represents a life-threatening organ
dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host
response to infection. Organ dysfunction can be
measured using a change ≥2 points in the SOFA
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