For patients in the ED who are suspected of having sepsis, swift, effective management is vital to improving outcomes. This issue reviews the latest evidence on the diagnosis and treatment of sepsis and septic shock:

• How do the definitions of sepsis affect treatment decisions – and CMS quality measurements?
• Is SOFA scoring in the ED possible? Is quickSOFA scoring helpful?
• How can you identify the origin of the infection?
• What are the lactate clearance, ScvO2, and mean arterial pressure values that you must measure and monitor?
• What methods of fluid assessment should be used?
• Which vasopressor is the first-line choice? Antibiotics?
• Is there a role for imaging in sepsis?
• Who needs to go to the ICU and who can be discharged?

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