What you'll learn

Analyze principles of initial resuscitation, including volume responsiveness, fluid selection and vasopressor initiation.
Evaluate the role of adjunctive supportive therapies in sepsis and septic shock, including corticosteroids, ascorbic acid and angiotensin II.
Develop a patient-specific pharmacotherapy regimen for early management of septic shock.

Course description

Rapid identification and early therapies for sepsis and septic shock management are crucial to improving patient outcomes. This session will attempt to address how to best incorporate the principles highlighted in the most recent SCCM guidelines, as well as new data that have emerged. There will be a focus on fluid resuscitation, antimicrobial therapy, vasoactive agents and adjunctive/hemodynamic support therapies.

The Surviving Sepsis Campaign has summarized recommendations for the management of septic shock for decades based on available literature and expert opinion. Despite the updated guidelines that were published in 2016, there is much debate regarding and individualized practice of, the management of sepsis and septic shock.

This is an accredited, livestreamed course offered by Harvard Medical School as part of the Contemporary Pharmacotherapy: Collaborative Clinical Explorations series. This course is targeted to pharmacists, pharmacy residents, physicians, physician assistants, clinicians, medical residents, nurses and nurse practitioners.

Select the Take Course button to view additional information on the course registration page.

Contact ceprograms@hms.harvard.edu with questions.

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