Diagnosis of sepsis is not easy. Making an early, accurate diagnosis of septic shock is a key to increasing survival rates. The signs and symptoms of severe sepsis may be subtle. Although the components of SIRS are non specific, the combination of suspected infection and the presence of SIRS may help alert the clinician to a possible diagnosis of sepsis. Although hypotension is another clinical sign that may signal the onset of septic shock, patient may present with sever sepsis and clinically significant global tissue hypoxia in its absence. Metabolic marker such as serum lactate, arterial base deficit may help to identify the severe cases. A single lactate measurement of 4mmol/l or more at initial presentation is associated with an increased rate of mortality [3]. There may well be signs of altered mentation and abnormalities of renal and liver function test, as well as coagulation abnormalities. At least two blood cultures and cultures of other sites as indicated before commencement of antibiotic therapy. Diagnostic studies such as Ultra sound and CT scan should be performed promptly.
D dimmers are grossly elevated in sepsis. Levels of Protein C are lowered which has therapeutic implications. The potential role of biomarkers for diagnosis of infection in patients presenting with severe sepsis remains undefined. Perhaps the most common considerations as diagnostic biomarkers for sepsis have been C-reactive protein and procalcitonin. Despite initial enthusiasm for their potential diagnostic strengths,[4] they have more recently been related to the growing heap of biomarkers that have failed to accurately differentiate sepsis from similar critical illnesses.
The most exciting development in the last 2 years is the recognition of "soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1" (sTREM-1) as a potential biomarker for sepsis. [5] For this marker, a level greater than 60 ng/mL was more accurate than any other clinical and laboratory findings indicating infection