Definitions of sepsis and septic shock were last revised in 2001. Considerable advances have since been made into the pathobiology (changes in organ function, morphology, cell biology, biochemistry, immunology, and circulation), management, and epidemiology of sepsis, suggesting the need for reexamination.To evaluate and, as needed, update definitions for sepsis and septic shock.A task force (n = 19) with expertise in sepsis pathobiology, clinical trials, and epidemiology was convened by the Society of Critical Care Medicine and the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine. Definitions and clinical criteria were generated through meetings, Delphi processes, analysis of electronic health record databases, and voting, followed by circulation to international professional societies, requesting peer review and endorsement (by 31 societies listed in the Acknowledgment).Limitations of previous definitions included an excessive focus on inflammation, the misleading model that sepsis follows a continuum through severe sepsis to shock, and inadequate specificity and sensitivity of the systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) criteria. Multiple definitions and terminologies are currently in use for sepsis, septic shock, and organ dysfunction, leading to discrepancies in reported incidence and observed mortality. The task force concluded the term severe sepsis was redundant.Sepsis should be defined as life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection. For clinical operationalization, organ dysfunction can be represented by an increase in the Sequential [Sepsis-related] Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score of 2 points or more, which is associated with an in-hospital mortality greater than 10%. Septic shock should be defined as a subset of sepsis in which particularly profound circulatory, cellular, and metabolic abnormalities are associated with a greater risk of mortality than with sepsis alone. Patients with septic shock can be clinically identified by a vasopressor requirement to maintain a mean arterial pressure of 65 mm Hg or greater and serum lactate level greater than 2 mmol/L (>18 mg/dL) in the absence of hypovolemia. This combination is associated with hospital mortality rates greater than 40%. In out-of-hospital, emergency department, or general hospital ward settings, adult patients with suspected infection can be rapidly identified as being more likely to have poor outcomes typical of sepsis if they have at least 2 of the following clinical criteria that together constitute a new bedside clinical score termed quickSOFA (qSOFA): respiratory rate of 22/min or greater, altered mentation, or systolic blood pressure of 100 mm Hg or less.These updated definitions and clinical criteria should replace previous definitions, offer greater consistency for epidemiologic studies and clinical trials, and facilitate earlier recognition and more timely management of patients with sepsis or at risk of developing sepsis.

Emerged evidence has indicated that immunosuppression is involved in the occurrence and development of sepsis. To provide clinical practice recommendations on the immune function in sepsis, an expert consensus focusing on the monitoring and treatment of sepsis-induced immunosuppression was developed. Literature related to the immune monitoring and treatment of sepsis were retrieved from PubMed, Web of Science, and Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure to design items and expert opinions were collected through an online questionnaire. Then, the Delphi method was used to form consensus opinions, and RAND appropriateness method was developed to provide consistency evaluation and recommendation levels for consensus opinions. This consensus achieved satisfactory results through two rounds of questionnaire survey, with 2 statements rated as perfect consistency, 13 as very good consistency, and 9 as good consistency. After summarizing the results, a total of 14 strong recommended opinions, 8 weak recommended opinions and 2 non-recommended opinions were produced. Finally, a face-to-face discussion of the consensus opinions was performed through an online meeting, and all judges unanimously agreed on the content of this consensus. In summary, this expert consensus provides a preliminary guidance for the monitoring and treatment of immunosuppression in patients with sepsis.© 2022. The Author(s).

Maternal sepsis rates are increasing and now rank as the second leading cause of preventable maternal mortality. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has responded to this trend through the Severe Sepsis/Septic Shock Management Bundle (SEP-1) initiative, which aims to improve sepsis care and will be integrated into the Hospital Value-Based Purchasing program by 2026. This article provides an update on maternal sepsis definitions, screening, and management in line with recent CMS guidance. A comprehensive literature search was conducted with PubMed, Google Scholar, Scholar GPT, and Google to identify national and international guidelines on maternal sepsis. In addition, 2 focused literature searches were performed: one targeting maternal sepsis review articles and the other exploring early warning tools for maternal sepsis. Recognizing that maternal sepsis occurs in the outpatient and inpatient settings, we emphasize the need for early detection in both settings. We introduce a 3-stage screening and diagnostic framework along with a care process model for the initial management of maternal sepsis, both grounded in best practices and designed to align with CMS guidance. In addition, alternative regimens for treating peripartum infections are suggested in light of the recent Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute updates on aminoglycosides. Strategies for managing β-lactam allergies are also explored, offering tailored treatment regimens for patients with varying allergic reactions. The article concludes by highlighting the long-term impact of sepsis and the critical need for comprehensive postdischarge follow-up to ensure optimal recovery.Copyright © 2025 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Maternal sepsis is an obstetric emergency and a leading cause of maternal morbidity and mortality. Early recognition in a pregnant or postpartum patient can be a challenge as the normal physiologic changes of pregnancy may mask the signs and symptoms of sepsis. Bedside assessment tools may aid in the detection of maternal sepsis. Timely and targeted antibiotic therapy and fluid resuscitation are critical for survival in patients with suspected sepsis. Once diagnosed, a search for etiologies and early application of source control measures will further reduce harms. If the patient is in septic shock or not responding to initial treatment, multidisciplinary consultation and escalation of care is necessary. Health care professionals should be aware of the unique complications of sepsis in critically ill pregnant and postpartum patients, and measures to prevent poor outcomes in this population. Adverse pregnancy outcomes may occur in association with sepsis, and should be anticipated and prevented when possible, or managed appropriately when they occur. Using a standardized approach to the patient with suspected sepsis may reduce maternal morbidity and mortality.Copyright © 2021 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) during pregnancy and the postpartum period, known as pregnancy-associated AKI (PrAKI), is an important health concern and driver of health inequity worldwide. Causes of PrAKI include sepsis, autoimmune disorders and pregnancy-specific pathologies such as hypertensive disorders. Common risk factors include maternal comorbidities and use of nephrotoxic medications. PrAKI accounts for a substantial proportion of maternal mortality and morbidity, particularly in low-income and middle-income countries, and may also adversely affect the fetus, resulting in death, premature birth and small for gestational age. In this Consensus Statement, we present recommendations on the causes, diagnosis, management and follow-up of PrAKI from the 32nd Acute Disease Quality Initiative meeting, which involved international experts in obstetrics, midwifery, obstetric medicine, paediatrics, internal medicine, anaesthesiology, nephrology and critical care. We suggest that pregnant and postpartum women at a high risk of PrAKI should be identified to enable prevention, surveillance and timely diagnosis. The multidisciplinary management of these patients should be tailored to treat their specific causes of PrAKI to optimize short-term and long-term neonatal and maternal outcomes. Further observational and interventional studies are needed to address existing gaps in knowledge of PrAKI and improve maternal and fetal outcomes.© 2025. Springer Nature Limited.

The comparison of the immunological state of pregnancy to an immunosuppressed host-graft model continues to lead research and clinical practice to ill-defined approaches. This Review discusses recent evidence that supports the idea that immunological responses at the receptive maternal-fetal interface are not simply suppressed but are instead highly dynamic. We discuss the crucial role of trophoblast cells in shaping not only the way in which immune cells respond to the invading blastocyst but also how they collectively react to external stimuli. We also discuss the role of the microbiota in promoting a tolerogenic maternal immune system and highlight how subclinical viral infections can disrupt this status quo, leading to pregnancy complications.