Question

A 65-year-old woman presents with fever, tachycardia, tachypnea, and hypotension from presumed urinary tract infection. Her lactate is 3.2 mmol/L. According to current sepsis management bundles, which intervention is most critical to initiate as early as possible?

Accepted Answer

Begin high-dose corticosteroids in all patients with sepsis.

Answer

Start low-dose dopamine for renal protection.

Answer

Obtain CT imaging before antibiotic administration.

Answer

Administer broad-spectrum IV antibiotics within 1 hour of recognition of sepsis.

Answer

Delay antibiotics until culture results are available.

Practice question

A 65-year-old woman presents with fever, tachycardia, tachypnea, and hypotension from presumed urinary tract infection. Her lactate is 3.2 mmol/L. According to current sepsis management bundles, which intervention is most critical to initiate as early as possible?