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In 2016, new definitions for sepsis and septic shock (Sepsis-3) were published, including endorsement for using sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) and quick SOFA (qSOFA) scores to assess prognosis (NEJM JW Gen Med Mar 15 2016 and JAMA 2016; 315:801). In two new studies, investigators examined use of these scores in emergency department (ED) and intensive care unit (ICU) populations ().
In one study, European investigators examined 879 patients who presented to the ED with clinically suspected, potentially serious infections. Overall mortality for the cohort was 8%; however, 24% of patients with qSOFA scores ≥2 died. Compared with ≥2 systemic inflammatory response syndrome elements (SIRS), severe sepsis (SIRS + organ dysfunction…