Sepsis remains one of the leading causes of preventable mortality, largely due to delayed recognition and delayed initiation of therapy. It should be suspected in any patient with infection and evidence of organ dysfunction such as altered mental status, hypotension, tachypnea, oliguria, or hypoxia. Bedside screening tools like qSOFA (altered sensorium, systolic blood pressure ≤100 mmHg, respiratory rate ≥22/min) help identify high-risk patients, but should complement—not replace—clinical judgment. Sepsis must be treated as a time-critical medical emergency.
The first hour, often referred to as the “golden hour” , is pivotal in determining outcomes. Immediate priorities include assessment of airway, breathing, and circulation, rapid measurement of vital signs, identification of the likely source of infection, and early laboratory evaluation. Blood cultures and serum lactate should be…
