Updated Surviving Sepsis Guidelines

Clinical Takeaway

: The newest guidelines shift to a more nuanced, patient-centered approach and away from strict targets for all patients.

An overview of Surviving Sepsis Campaign: International Guidelines for Management of Sepsis and Septic Shock 2026

Background

This is the fifth update to the guidelines, which were previously updated in 2021. The recommendations, from the Society of Critical Care Medicine and the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine, are based on best available evidence (assessed by the GRADE approach) as well as cost, equity, feasibility, and patient values.

Key Recommendations

In screening for sepsis, favor tools such as systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) criteria and modified Early Warning Score (MEWS) over the quick Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (qSOFA), which is less sensitive.
Administer fluids before vasopressors for persistent hyp…

Reviewing Author

Patricia Kritek, M.D.

Disclosures

Nothing to disclose