Sepsis

Question 1

What is the definition of sepsis?

Answer 1

A life-threatening condition arising from the body’s response to an infection.

Question 2

What are common causes of sepsis?

Answer 2

Bacterial infections, Viral infections, Fungal infections, Parasitic infections.

Question 3

What are the systemic inflammatory signs of sepsis?

Answer 3

Fever or hypothermia, Tachycardia, Tachypnea, Leukocytosis or Leukopenia, Elevated CRP or Procalcitonin.

Question 4

What are the organ dysfunction signs in sepsis?

Answer 4

Altered mental status, Hypotension, Decreased urine output, Hypoxemia, Elevated lactate levels.

Question 5

What is septic shock?

Answer 5

A subset of sepsis where circulatory, cellular and metabolic abnormalities increase mortality

Question 6

What is the primary treatment for sepsis?

Answer 6

Early recognition, Administration of broad-spectrum antibiotics, Aggressive fluid resuscitation, Source control of infection.

Question 7

What is the ‘Sepsis Six’ bundle?

Answer 7

1) Administer oxygen, 2) Take blood cultures, 3) Give broad-spectrum antibiotics, 4) Start IV fluids, 5) Check lactate levels, 6) Monitor urine output.

Question 8

What is the role of lactate levels in sepsis management?

Answer 8

Elevated lactate indicates tissue hypoperfusion and guides resuscitation efforts.

Question 9

What are the common sites of infection leading to sepsis?

Answer 9

Lungs (pneumonia), Urinary tract (UTIs), Abdominal cavity (peritonitis), Skin (cellulitis), Bloodstream (bacteremia).

Question 10

What are risk factors for sepsis?

Answer 10

Age extremes (elderly or neonates), Chronic illnesses (e.g., diabetes, cancer), Immunosuppression, Recent surgery or trauma, Invasive devices (e.g., catheters).

Question 11

What is the SOFA score in sepsis?

Answer 11

Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score used to assess organ dysfunction in sepsis.

Question 12

What is qSOFA, and when is it used?

Answer 12

Quick SOFA is a simplified scoring system for identifying sepsis in non-ICU settings, based on respiratory rate ≥22/min, altered mental status, and systolic BP ≤100 mmHg.

Question 13

What are complications of sepsis?

Answer 13

Septic shock, Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), Multi-organ failure, Death.

Question 14

What is the mortality rate of sepsis?

Answer 14

Mortality rates vary but can exceed 30-50% in severe cases or septic shock.

Question 15

What are early warning signs of sepsis?

Answer 15

Confusion, Fever or hypothermia, Rapid breathing, Low blood pressure, Decreased urine output, Extreme fatigue.

Question 16

What is the cornerstone of antibiotic therapy in sepsis?

Answer 16

Empiric broad-spectrum antibiotics targeting likely pathogens, de-escalated based on culture results.