Learn Glossary clinical condition

Sepsis

Life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection.

Diagnosed using SOFA score increases; septic shock requires persistent hypotension despite resuscitation plus lactate >2 mmol/L. Drives the metabolic stress response: hyperglycemia, accelerated proteolysis, lipid mobilization, and acute-phase protein synthesis. Early enteral nutrition within 24 to 48 hours of ICU admission is recommended unless hemodynamically unstable. Permissive underfeeding may be appropriate in the first week.

How one textbook covers it

  • Krause and Mahan's Food and the Nutrition Care Process, 16th ed.Chapter 39

    Diagnosed using SOFA score increases; septic shock requires persistent hypotension despite resuscitation plus lactate >2 mmol/L. Drives the metabolic stress response: hyperglycemia, accelerated proteolysis, lipid mobilization, and acute-phase protein synthesis. Early enteral nutrition within 24 to 48 hours of ICU admission is recommended unless hemodynamically unstable. Permissive underfeeding may be appropriate in the first week.

Related terms

Cytokine Storm, Multiple Organ Dysfunction Syndrome, SIRS