Critical Care Medicine ():10.1097/CCM.0000000000007075, March 23, 2026. | DOI: 10.1097/CCM.0000000000007075
Prescott, Hallie C. MD, MSc; Antonelli, Massimo MD; Alhazzani, Waleed MD, MSc, FRCPC; Møller, Morten Hylander MD, PhD; Alshamsi, Fayez MBBS; Azevedo, Luciano C. P. MD, PhD; Belley-Cote, Emilie MD, PhD; De Waele, Jan MD, PhD; Derde, Lennie MD, PhD; Dionne, Joanna C. MD, MSc, PhD, FRCPC; Evans, Laura MD; Gershengorn, Hayley B. MD; Hodgson, Carol L. PhD, PT, MPhils, PGDip(Crit Care); Honarmand, Kimia MD, MSc, PhD; Kesecioglu, Jozef MD, PhD; McIntyre, Lauralyn MD; Mer, Mervyn MD, PhD; Nunnally, Mark E. MD; Oczkowski, Simon J. W. MD; Rochwerg, Bram MD, MSc, FRCPC, FCCM, ATSF; Akinola, Olurotimi Olaolu MBBS, MMED; Akuamoah-Boateng, Kwame A. DNP, ACNP-BC, FCCM; Alberto, Laura BN, Esp.Ed., MEd, Com.Sc.(Dip), PhD; Angus, Derek C. MD; Arabi, Yaseen M. MD; Azoulay, Elie MD; Cecconi, Maurizio MD; Convocar, Pauline F. MD, MCHM; De Pascale, Gennaro MD; Doi, Kent MD, PhD; Du, Bin MD; Egi, Moritoki MD; Elie-Turenne, Marie-Carmelle MD; Ferrer, Ricard MD, PhD; Fox-Robichaud, Alison MD; French, Craig MBBS; Freund, Yonathan MD, PhD; Gong, Michelle Ng MD, MS; Hale, Caleb P. MD; Hammond, Naomi E. RN, BN, MN (Crit.Care), MPH, PhD; Hashmi, Madiha MD, FFARCSI; Heunks, Leo MD, PhD; Iwashyna, Theodore J. MD, PhD; Jacob, Shevin T. MD, MPH; Klompas, Michael MD, MPH; Kwizera, Arthur MD; Leeies, Murdoch MD; Lejnieks, Joanna D. RN; Levy, Mitchell M. MD; Machado, Flavia R. MD, PhD; Maia, Marcelo O. MD; Masur, Henry MD; Maves, Ryan C. MD; McGloughlin, Steven MD; McPeake, Joanne PhD, MSc, BN (Hons), RGN; Mohr, Nicholas M. MD, MS; Myatra, Sheila Nainan MD; Ostermann, Marlies MD, PhD; Peake, Sandra L. MD, PhD, FCICM; Pletz, Mathias W. MD; Roberts, Jason A. PhD; Rosa, Regis G. MD; Sawyer, Robert G. MD; Schorr, Christa A. RN, DNP; Simpson, Steven Q. MD; Weng, Li MD; Wiersinga, W. Joost MD, PhD, MBA; Rhodes, Andrew MBBS, MD; Coopersmith, Craig M. MD
Overview
Sepsis, life-threatening acute organ dysfunction due to infection (1), is a global health priority (2,3) with approximately 49 million cases and 13 million sepsis-related deaths each year (4–6). Beyond being acutely deadly, sepsis contributes to new and worsened physical, cognitive, and mental health problems in many survivors (7,8). Early identification and treatment are critical to improving outcomes.
The Surviving Sepsis Campaign (SSC) guidelines are intended to support clinicians caring for adult patients with sepsis, focusing on management in the hospital, the immediate prehospital setting, and the immediate post-hospital setting. These guidelines incorporate principles of antimicrobial stewardship through responsible antimicrobial use, proper diagnostic strategies, and de-escalation of antimicrobial therapy. The recommendations reflect evidence-based best practice, distilling a large body of research into actionable recommendations. They empower individuals and health systems to make informed choices about care and support improvements in management and outcomes of sepsis (Table 1).
Recommendations
For the complete list of recommendations, please visit the SCCM website, where you can access the recommendations, tables, figures, supplementary materials, and other related information.