How is Severe Sepsis Treated?

Antibiotics are given to help fight infection. Different antibiotics are used depending on the type of infection. Patients also need additional treatments to support organs that are failing. For example, patients with severe sepsis who have low blood pressure are usually given IV fluids to help correct it. If blood pressure doesn’t rise with this treatment, patients may have a condition known as “septic shock.” These patients are very ill and have an even greater risk of dying. Medications used to raise blood pressure (vasopressors) are used in these patients.

In addition to antibiotics, treatments commonly given include:

• IV (intravenous) fluids – given for various reasons, including helping increase blood pressure
• Vasopressors – if fluids are not enough to increase blood pressure, these medications may be given
• Machines to support organ function – breathing machines (ventilators) and dialysis machines (filtering for the kidneys) are two examples
• Medications specifically for the treatment of severe sepsis are used to help the body fight severe sepsis when the patient is at a high risk of dying. These target the body’s systemic response or “over-reaction” to infection.

Other types of treatments might include:

• Feeding tube – special nutrients are given in a tube placed through the nose and into the stomach
• Pain medication/sedatives – to help patients with pain or to help them sleep
• Catheters – these special tubes help drain fluids from the body
• IV (intravenous) lines – placed in veins to deliver medication to the bloodstream

How can the doctor tell if a patient has severe sepsis?
What are the goals of severe sepsis therapy?
How is severe sepsis treated?
Talking with the treatment team
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