FCCS Sepsis and Infection Control Flashcards

Source control in sepsis refers to:

Answer: Physically removing or draining the infectious focus (e.g., abscess drainage)

Source control involves definitive measures to eliminate the infection source — debridement, drainage, or removal of infected devices — and is a critical Surviving Sepsis recommendation.

In sepsis with suspected meningitis, the correct order of interventions is:

Answer: Blood cultures → antibiotics + dexamethasone → CT → LP if safe

Blood cultures are drawn first, then antibiotics and corticosteroids are given immediately without delaying for LP; imaging is obtained to assess LP safety if needed.

Immune checkpoint inhibitor-related pneumonitis in the ICU is best treated with:

Answer: High-dose corticosteroids after ruling out infection

Immunotherapy-related pneumonitis is an immune-mediated adverse effect treated with high-dose steroids (1–2 mg/kg prednisone equivalent) after excluding infectious causes.

Which criterion distinguishes septic shock from sepsis in Sepsis-3 definitions?

Answer: Vasopressor requirement to maintain MAP ≥ 65 plus lactate > 2 mmol/L despite adequate resuscitation

Septic shock is sepsis with persistent circulatory and cellular/metabolic abnormalities requiring vasopressors to achieve MAP ≥ 65 and serum lactate > 2 mmol/L despite fluids.

Broad-spectrum antibiotics in sepsis should ideally be de-escalated based on culture data within how many hours?

Answer: 72–96 hours

De-escalation to narrower-spectrum antibiotics based on culture and sensitivity data within 72–96 hours is recommended to reduce resistance and adverse effects.

Which clinical finding indicates adequate fluid resuscitation in septic shock?

Answer: MAP > 65, improving lactate clearance ≥ 10%, and improving urine output

Resuscitation endpoints include MAP ≥ 65 mmHg, lactate clearance of ≥ 10% (targeting normalization), and improving urine output as markers of restored perfusion.