DEFINING SEPSIS PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE

Elizabeth S. Munroe, MD, MSc, Hallie C. Prescott, MD, MSc

Sepsis is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, with millions of cases and deaths reported annually. The document highlights the necessity of a common definition of sepsis to facilitate early identification, treatment, and research. It reviews the evolution of sepsis definitions, including the Sepsis-3 criteria, and discusses the limitations and challenges faced in clinical practice due to the lack of a gold standard for diagnosis. The authors propose that a better understanding of sepsis pathophysiology and epidemiology is crucial for refining these definitions.