New consensus definitions for sepsis and septic shock: implications for treatment strategies and drug development?

Sepsis continues to escape a precise diagnostic definition. The most recent consensus definition, termed Sepsis-3, highlights the importance of the maladaptive and potentially life threatening host response to infection. After briefly reviewing the history and epidemiology of sepsis, we go onto describe some of the challenges encountered classifying such a heterogenous disease state. In the context of these new definitions for sepsis and septic shock, we explore current as well as potentially novel therapies and conclude by mentioning some of the controversies of this most recent framework. Key points: The third international consensus definitions for Sepsis and Septic Shock take into account the latest pathophysiological understanding of sepsis, highlighting the importance of the life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection. These advances in understanding the complexities of sepsis are not mirrored pharmacologically, where fluids, antibiotics and vasoactive medications continue to form the mainstay of therapy. Sepsis-3 aims to improve both the accuracy of the nomenclature of sepsis as well as improve clinical care. Important questions remain in regards to the clinical applicability of this latest framework