European Society of Emergency Medicine position paper on the 1-hour sepsis bundle of the Surviving Sepsis Campaign: expression of concern

Abstract

In 2018 the Surviving Sepsis Campaign issued new guidance with a revised version of their sepsis bundle. Instead of the 2016 3-hour sepsis bundle, the Surviving Sepsis Campaign now recommends that blood cultures, lactate measurement, broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy and 30 ml/kg crystalloid fluid administration should be initiated within 1 hour after triage. The European Society of Emergency Medicine wishes to express its concerns regarding the low level of evidence that underlies this guidance, and the potential implications from an emergency physician point of view.