While sepsis defies simple definition, it’s generally understood to be a clinical syndrome caused by infection that may have profound adverse physiologic consequences. Although its precise incidence is unknown, sepsis is believed to be a leading cause of critical illness and hospital mortality, accounting for more than one-third of all deaths in U.S. hospitals. For patients with sepsis, early identification and rapid intervention are crucial to the restoration of tissue perfusion. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently partnered with clinical professional organizations and patient advocacy groups to launch a comprehensive campaign focused on prevention and rapid recognition of sepsis as critical components of patient safety programs.

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