Developing a New Definition and Assessing New Clinical Criteria for Septic Shock

This consensus effort provides a new definition for septic shock, which affects a subset of patients with sepsis.   The definition requires the presence of circulatory disturbances (BP unresponsive to fluids and requiring pressors), cellular and metabolic abnormalities (serum lactate level >2 mmol/L).  The presence of these criteria is associated with an increased risk of mortality compared to sepsis alone.