Management of sepsis: from evidence to clinical practice

Abstract

Sepsis is one of the leading causes of death in hospitalized patients and its management involves a lot of specialist. Internist is required to demonstrate his competence since the beginning when the diagnosis is not so easy to be clarified. A rapid clinical suspicion permits a prompt management of the patient that means important mortality reduction. However, it is essential to understand the source of infection and echography represents a rapid, economic, useful and widespread tool with whom Internist should become more and more confident. The following review is a practical guide to manage septic patients according to the most recent literature, underlining aspects of antibiotic therapy, hemodynamic stabilization and supportive therapy. To limit sepsis mortality, a valid Internist should be culturally prepared and especially able to cooperate with other specialists, because a strong enemy requires a strong team.