Sepsis strategies: an ICU package?

Summary • Mortality of patients with severe sepsis remains at unacceptable levels and recent new strategies are not being widely embraced • Five strategies are discussed within this article [low tidal volumes in acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome, early goal‐directed therapy, drotrecogin alfa (activated), moderate dose corticosteroids and tight control of blood glucose] • The critical care nurse plays a leading role in the detection, monitoring and treatment of patients with severe sepsis • The role of the critical care nurse within the multidisciplinary team is explored • Education, combination of strategies and the use of protocols are discussed