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Sepsis shock — DipIMC MCQ

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ModerateMedical EmergenciesSepsis shockDipIMC

An older woman with a urinary catheter is confused, febrile, tachypnoeic and hypotensive at home. Capillary refill is 5 seconds. What is the most appropriate management?

Educational content. Not a substitute for clinical judgement or local policy.

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Correct answer: DGive oxygen if needed, consider cautious IV fluid and pre-alert for sepsis

Option D is correct because Hypotension, tachypnoea and confusion suggest high-risk sepsis needing urgent transfer and supportive care. Option E is less appropriate because watchful waiting risks deterioration or delays definitive care; option B is less appropriate because the clinical risk exceeds that destination or timeframe. Option A is less appropriate because it is plausible in a different scenario but suboptimal for the features described; option C is less appropriate because analgesia is important but not sufficient as the primary intervention. Clinical pearl: in DipIMC-style questions, the best answer is the intervention that changes outcome earliest in the pre-hospital phase.

Reference: JRCALC Guidelines; NICE Sepsis guidance