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Sepsis: A Definition Under Construction

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Sepsis

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Abstract

More than 5.3 million people die from sepsis annually. Sepsis generates multiple hospitalizations and a gigantic economic burden. In order to face a problem of such magnitude, it is essential to have an objective, clear, and universal definition. Although the first description dates back more than 3500 years, only in 1992 an effort was made to reach a consensus definition. Below we review the changes that this definition has undergone over the last 25 years. These changes have sought to promote an early diagnosis, in order to generate a more timely therapeutic approach and improve outcomes. From a definition by a consensus of experts in 1992, a switch was made to another one based on a compilation of clinical studies that included a large number of patients. We present a historical summary of the changes that the definition of sepsis and septic shock has undergone and the fundamentals of these changes. The latest publication, in 2016, despite being a gigantic achievement, has been the subject of ample questions that show that the definition of sepsis is still under construction.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Postgraduate Program in Critical Medicine and Intensive Care, Universidad de Cartagena, Intensive Care Unit, Gestion Salud, Cartagena, Bolivar, Colombia

    Carmelo Dueñas-Castell

  2. Universidad del Bosque, Bogotá, Colombia

    Carmelo Dueñas-Castell

  3. Critical Care Medicine, Universidad de la Sabana, Cundinamarca, Colombia

    Carmelo Dueñas-Castell

  4. Department of Internal Medicine Pulmonary Medicine and Critical Care, Hospital Santa Clara, Universidad del Bosque, Bogotá, Colombia

    Guillermo Ortiz-Ruiz

  5. Internal Medicine, Critical Medicine and Intensive Care, Universidad de Cartagena, Cartagena, Colombia

    Diana Borré-Naranjo

Authors
  1. Carmelo Dueñas-Castell
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  2. Guillermo Ortiz-Ruiz
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  3. Diana Borré-Naranjo
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Carmelo Dueñas-Castell .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Internal Medicine Pulmonary Medicine and Critical Care Hospital Santa Clara, Universidad del Bosque, Bogotá, Colombia

    Guillermo Ortiz-Ruiz

  2. Department of Critical Care Clínica Gestión Salud, Universidad de Cartagena, Cartagena, Colombia

    Carmelo Dueñas-Castell

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Dueñas-Castell, C., Ortiz-Ruiz, G., Borré-Naranjo, D. (2018). Sepsis: A Definition Under Construction. In: Ortiz-Ruiz, G., Dueñas-Castell, C. (eds) Sepsis. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-7334-7_1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-7334-7_1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-7332-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-7334-7

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