Protocol of the management of patients with severe sepsis and septic shock

Severe sepsis and septic shock remains the most urgent problem. In severe sepsis and septic shock should be early goal-directed resuscitation of the septic patient during the first 6 hrs after recognition; -appropriate diagnostic studies to ascertain causative organisms before starting antibiotics; -early administration of broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy; -reassessment of antibiotic therapy with microbiology and clinical data to narrow coverage, when appropriate; -a usual 7-10 days of antibiotic therapy guided by clinical response; -source control with attention to the method that balances risks and benefits; -equivalence of crystalloid and colloid resuscitation; aggressive fluid challenge to restore mean circulating filling pressure; -vasopressor preference for norepinephrine and dopamine; -cautious use of vasopressin pending further studies; -avoiding low-dose dopamine administration for renal protection; consideration of dobutamine inotropic therapy in some clinical situations; -stress-dose steroid therapy for septic shock; use of recombinant activated protein C in patients with severe sepsis and high risk for death; -with resolution of tissue hypoperfusion and in the absence of coronary artery disease or acute hemorrhage, targeting a hemoglobin of 7-9 g/dL; -a low tidal volume and limitation of inspiratory plateau pressure strategy for acute lung injury and acute respiratory distress syndrome; -application of a minimal amount of positive end-expiratory pressure in acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome; -protocols for weaning and sedation, using either intermittent bolus sedation or continuous infusion sedation with daily interruptions/lightening; -avoidance of neuromuscular blockers, if at all possible; -maintenance of blood glucose