Question

A 75 year old man is brought to the emergency department with fever, productive cough, and acute confusion. He is oriented only to person. Blood pressure is 88 over 52 mm Hg, heart rate 120 per min, respiratory rate 30 per min, and oxygen saturation 89 percent on room air. Laboratory tests show lactate 4.0 mmol per L. According to sepsis guidelines, which parameter best defines septic shock in this patient?

Accepted Answer

Any infection with organ dysfunction

Answer

Presence of fever and tachycardia

Answer

Systolic blood pressure less than 100 mm Hg only

Answer

Lactate level greater than 2 mmol per L despite adequate fluid resuscitation and need for vasopressors to maintain mean arterial pressure 65 mm Hg or more

Answer

Any positive blood culture with hypotension

Practice question