Recent advances in the pathophysiology and management of sepsis: a review

*1Adegboro, B. A., 1Imran, J., 2Abayomi, S. A., 3Sanni, E. O., and 4Biliaminu, S. A.

Departments of 1Medical Microbiology and Immunology, 2Department of Medical Microbiology, LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, Nigeria  3Haematology, and 4Chemical Pathology, Nile University of Nigeria, Abuja, Nigeria

*Correspondence to: boazadegboro@gmail.com

Abstract:

Sepsis is a syndrome consisting of physiological, pathological and biochemical anomalies caused by infectious agents. It causes clinical organ dysfunction, which is identified by an acute increase in the Sequential (sepsis-related) Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score of two or more points. SOFA score is a score of three components that can be easily used at the bedside to track the clinical status of a patient while on admission, and these are altered respiratory rate of ≥ 22 breaths/minute, altered mental status, and systolic blood pressure of ≤ 100 mmHg. A patient with SOFA score of ≥ 2 has an attributable 2 – 25-fold increased risk of mortality compared to a patient with SOFA score of ˂ 2. This present review provides information on the new definition of sepsis and septic shock, aetiology, pathophysiology, biochemical, pathological and haematological changes, morbidity and mortality parameters, management, and prognostic factors in patients with sepsis. Continue reading “Recent advances in the pathophysiology and management of sepsis: a review”