Early Goal-Directed Therapy for Severe Sepsis

In a small prospective clinical trial, implementation of a protocol-driven resuscitation strategy was associated with a nonsignificant relative mortality reduction.

In 2001, Rivers and colleagues published the results of a randomized, controlled study showing a significant, 33% relative mortality reduction associated with “early goal-directed therapy” in treating patients with severe sepsis and septic shock (see Journal Watch Infectious Diseases Dec 21 2001). This algorithmic approach, aimed at reversing sepsis-induced hypoperfusion, was clearly superior to treatment according to physicians’ judgment.

Researchers in the U.S. recently conducted a prospective, longitudinal, clinical trial to determine the effects of implementing an early goal-directed therapy protocol at their hospital. They examined outcomes of patients who received initial treatment for severe sepsis in the emergency department: 79 pati…

Reviewing Author

Thomas Glück, MD

Disclosures

Editorial BoardsConsilium Infectiorum by InfectoPharm, Infection

Thomas Glück, MD

Disclosures

Editorial BoardsConsilium Infectiorum by InfectoPharm, Infection