Sepsis in adults: Recognition and treatment in clinical guidelines

Sepsis is a potentially fatal condition, causing approximately five deaths every hour in the UK. However, new research is being published and guidelines are continually being updated—making it vital for general practice nurses to stay up-to-date with the latest developments Sepsis is a life-threatening condition. It is responsible for the majority of deaths in intensive care units worldwide, however, its pathophysiology is still not well understood. Over the past 2 decades, sepsis has been defined several times; the most recent was the Third International Consensus Definition for Sepsis and Septic Shock in 2016. It is becoming a ‘hot topic’ in healthcare—different organisations, such as the UK Sepsis Trust, are working towards raising awareness of sepsis and the importance of early recognition in improving outcomes. This subsequently led to the publication of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence clinical guidelines for sepsis in 2016, updated in 2017. This article will explore the history of the definition of sepsis; the most updated protocols for early recognition and treatment; and the Sepsis Six. It will conclude with a list of relevant online resources available, in order to aid clinicians in their daily practice.