Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Sepsis and Septic Shock Management

Question 1

According to the Sepsis-3 consensus definition (2016), sepsis is best defined as:

Accepted Answer

Life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection

Answer

Sepsis-3 (2016) redefined sepsis as life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection, replacing the older SIRS-based criteria.

Question 2

An acute increase in the total Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score of ≥ ___ points indicates organ dysfunction consistent with sepsis:

Accepted Answer

2

Answer

An acute change in total SOFA score ≥2 points above baseline indicates organ dysfunction in the setting of suspected infection, meeting the Sepsis-3 definition of sepsis.

Question 3

According to Sepsis-3 criteria, septic shock is distinguished from sepsis by the requirement for which combination of findings?

Accepted Answer

Vasopressor requirement to maintain MAP ≥ 65 mmHg AND serum lactate > 2 mmol/L despite adequate volume resuscitation

Answer

Septic shock requires both vasopressor dependence to maintain MAP ≥65 mmHg and serum lactate >2 mmol/L despite adequate resuscitation, indicating profound circulatory and cellular metabolic abnormalities.

Question 4

The quick SOFA (qSOFA) score is a bedside screening tool for sepsis risk. Which three parameters comprise the qSOFA score?

Accepted Answer

Altered mental status, respiratory rate ≥ 22 breaths/min, systolic BP ≤ 100 mmHg

Answer

qSOFA uses three bedside variables: altered mentation, RR ≥22/min, and SBP ≤100 mmHg; a score ≥2 identifies patients at high risk for poor outcomes outside the ICU.

Question 5

In a patient with suspected sepsis, when should blood cultures optimally be collected relative to antibiotic administration?

Accepted Answer

Before antibiotic administration, with at least 2 sets drawn from separate venipuncture sites

Answer

At least 2 sets of blood cultures from separate venipuncture sites should be obtained before initiating antibiotics to maximize pathogen identification while reducing contamination false positives.

Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Practice Test

Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Practice Test

Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Sepsis and Septic Shock Management