Physiological parameters, location of infection and organ failure are significant predictors of misdiagnosing severe sepsis

Abstract

Severe sepsis and septic shock are common disease processes in the critically ill and are associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. The importance of the early identification and diagnosis of severe sepsis has been highlighted by the Surviving Sepsis Guidelines with the aim to provide early and aggressive management in order to improve outcome. In contemporary practice, all clinicians have the responsibility of identifying severe sepsis. Therefore the objectives of this study were to determine whether emergency department and intensive care clinicians could identify and diagnose severe sepsis in those patients in their care within the first 24 hours of admission, and to identify predictors of failing to diagnose sepsis.