Sepsis and Kidney Injury

Area of Science:

• Nephrology
• Critical Care Medicine
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Sepsis and septic shock frequently cause acute kidney injury (AKI), a major contributor to mortality in hospitalized patients.
• Standardized definitions exist for sepsis and AKI separately, but a specific consensus definition for sepsis-associated AKI is lacking.
• Identifying high-risk patients for sepsis-associated AKI relies on combined definitions, highlighting the need for improved diagnostic and therapeutic approaches.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the current landscape of sepsis-associated AKI care.
• To discuss existing challenges in prevention and early detection.
• To explore strategies for improving patient outcomes in sepsis-associated AKI.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of current research on sepsis-associated AKI.
• Analysis of existing definitions and epidemiological data.
• Examination of novel biomarker investigations and treatment strategies, including care bundles and extracorporeal modalities.

Main Results:

• Sepsis-associated AKI presents significant challenges in prevention and early detection due to late clinical manifestation and imperfect biomarkers (serum creatinine, urine output).
• Novel biomarkers and care bundles are under investigation for AKI management.
• Despite research into novel therapeutics and dialysis, clinical care for sepsis-associated AKI has not been revolutionized.

Conclusions:

• Current approaches to sepsis-associated AKI are limited by diagnostic challenges and a lack of revolutionary therapeutic advancements.
• Continued investigation into novel biomarkers and refined treatment strategies, such as care bundles, is crucial.
• Improving the care and outcomes for patients with sepsis-associated AKI requires a multi-faceted approach addressing prevention, early detection, and treatment.