Sepsis

OBJECTIVES: To review infection and sepsis in patients with cancer and to provide an overview of controversies and research-based practices of infectious complications and management strategies. DATA SOURCES: Research studies, review articles, web sites, and consensus documents. CONCLUSIONS: Traditional assumptions about infection and its optimal management are redefined by research regarding transfusion and catheter-related infections, prophylactic antibiotic administration, use of growth factors, and antimicrobial therapy regimens. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: Infection is still the most common source of morbidity and mortality among cancer patients. The importance of recognizing high-risk patients, implementing infection prevention practices, and prompt intervention for infection symptoms has been established.     

Sepsis并非感染:支持“拯救Sepsis运动”

Sepsis不同于感染,是机体对感染的反应失控而导致的危及生命的器官功能障碍。Sepsis的重点在于器官功能障碍而非感染,这可能是美国感染病学会(Infectious Disease Society of America,IDSA)与“拯救Sepsis运动(Surviving Sepsis Campaign,SSC)”在重症感染认知上的分歧。对于Sepsis而言,筛查至关重要,可更早地启动集束性治疗策略,从而改善患者预后。Sepsis的理念来源于循证医学证据及大数据研究结果,二者奠定了其坚实的理论基础。本文根据IDSA提出的争议话题,从SSC角度,阐述重症医学对Sepsis本质的认知。     

Sepsis and coagulation

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: There is considerable evidence that dysregulation of the coagulation and fibrinolytic systems plays a major role in the pathophysiology of severe sepsis, with a special focus on the protein C system. Conversely, there is an approval for use of recombinant human activated protein C in the more severe patients. This review highlights recent findings about the biology of the protein C system and of other important coagulation components such as tissue factor, platelets, and protein S, with an effort to link fundamental data and recent clinical findings. RECENT FINDINGS: There is a better comprehension of the biology of the thrombomodulin-protein C-endothelial protein C receptor complex, and mainly of its cellular effects via the protease activated receptor 1 receptor and of its implication in the generation of anticoagulant microparticles. The implications of other important agents such as platelets and von Willebrand factor, tissue factor, and protein S are also becoming increasingly evident, both from experimental and clinical studies. From a clinical point of view, the more immediately promising approach could be the ability to identify the fraction of severe sepsis patients exhibiting an impaired ability to activate protein C, raising the possibility to select the better candidates for activated protein C infusion. SUMMARY: The comprehension of the protein C pathway is undoubtedly progressing both in experimental and clinical settings. In parallel, some promising other coagulant pathways are also under investigation in the sepsis context, with a hope for major clinical implications in the future.     

Sepsis and coagulation

The host response to infection is a highly complex yet well-orchestrated process that involves an elaborate array of soluble mediators and cells. Normally, the host response prevails in containing and eliminating the pathogenic threat. When excessive or sustained, however, the host response may "turn on its bearer" and lead to organ dysfunction. Severe sepsis is invariably associated with activation of primary and secondary hemostasis. This article describes sepsis-associated changes in coagulation, discusses the putative role for these changes in pathogenesis of the sepsis syndrome, and outlines current diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.