Finding sepsis, what we seek and what we find

Tannetje Cornelia Minderhoud

    Research output: PhD ThesisPhD-Thesis - Research and graduation internal

    486 Downloads (Pure)

    Abstract

    Infections leading to severe illness and ultimately death have been described for more than 2000 years, and have been described by the word sepsis since Homer and Hippocrates. With the discovery of antimicrobial therapy and intravenous fluid therapy, it was recognized that the prognosis could be improved, especially if the treatment was started early. After studies confirmed this finding, screening programs stimulating early antibiotic treatment were widely implemented. However, severe infections and the ensuing organ failure can present in very diverse ways which makes accurate screening difficult. In addition, early antimicrobial treatment focused mostly on antibiotics, even though virus infections (and other organisms) can also cause severe illness. In this thesis, several articles on the topic of infections in the ED have been brought together. In part 1, we focus on how we identify severely ill patients in the Emergency Department. Part 2 focuses on microbiological evidence and recognition of viral or bacterial infection in the ED. Part 3 is about the bigger picture. In the discussion, we discuss how we the concept of sepsis in the ED can be applied and what the challenges for the future are. After all, do we really know what we are looking for?
    Original languageEnglish
    QualificationPhD
    Awarding Institution
    • Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
    Supervisors/Advisors
    • Nanayakkara, Kurukula Don Prabath Wasantha Bernard, Supervisor, -
    • van Agtmael, M.A., Supervisor, -
    Award date22 Jun 2022
    Place of PublicationVianen
    Publisher
    Print ISBNs9789464375299
    Publication statusPublished - 22 Jun 2022

    Keywords

    • sepsis
    • Emergency Department
    • infectious disease
    • microbiology
    • procalcitonin
    • influenza
    • risk stratification
    • diagnostics

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