Special Trauma Grand Rounds: Sepsis – A Leading Cause of Hospital Deaths

Sepsis is a serious medical condition caused by an overwhelming immune response to infection that can progress to shock, multi-organ failure and death. Severe sepsis affects approximately 750,000 Americans annually, with a mortality rate of ~28-50%. This educational activity will cover the epidemiology, pathophysiology, early diagnosis, and optimal treatment of sepsis and septic shock, including in vulnerable populations such as the elderly and immunocompromised.

Desired Outcomes:

• Define the following terms: systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), sepsis, severe sepsis and septic shock
• Examine the pathophysiology of sepsis
• Describe the priorities for treatment of sepsis
• Recognize the changing epidemiology of sepsis with an increasing number of cases due to infections with Gram-positive bacteria
• Cite prevention strategies to reduce sepsis and septic shock
• Suspect sepsis over other conditions, particularly in older patients and patients with weakened immune systems
• Recognize and diagnose sepsis in a timely and efficient manner

CME Activity Flyer (PDF)