Critical care: Sepsis-3 definition: practice question

A Anaesthesia question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Anaesthesia · Critical care: Sepsis-3 definition

Sample item

According to the Sepsis-3 definition, sepsis is best described as which of the following?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

D. Life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection

Sepsis-3 defines sepsis as life-threatening organ dysfunction due to a dysregulated host response to infection, identified by an acute rise in SOFA score of 2 or more. Septic shock is sepsis with vasopressor need to keep mean arterial pressure at 65 mmHg or more and lactate above 2 mmol/L despite adequate fluids. SIRS criteria are no longer used for the definition.

Option by option

  • A. Any infection with two SIRS criteria

    SIRS-based definitions were abandoned.

  • B. Infection with a positive blood culture

    Blood culture positivity is not required.

  • C. Fever with leucocytosis

    Fever and leucocytosis do not define organ dysfunction.

  • D. Life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection (correct)

    Correct. Organ dysfunction is central to the definition.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this Anaesthesia question

What is the answer to this Anaesthesia question?

The best answer is D, Life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection. Sepsis-3 defines sepsis as life-threatening organ dysfunction due to a dysregulated host response to infection, identified by an acute rise in SOFA score of 2 or more.

Why is "Any infection with two SIRS criteria" not the answer?

SIRS-based definitions were abandoned.

Why is "Infection with a positive blood culture" not the answer?

Blood culture positivity is not required.

Why is "Fever with leucocytosis" not the answer?

Fever and leucocytosis do not define organ dysfunction.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Critical care: Sepsis-3 definition in Anaesthesia. Septic shock is sepsis with vasopressor need to keep mean arterial pressure at 65 mmHg or more and lactate above 2 mmol/L despite adequate fluids. SIRS criteria are no longer used for the definition.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Critical care: Sepsis-3 definition?

Make a table of each agent, its key advantage and its main side effect. Then use the flashcards and the other Anaesthesia questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.