Surviving Sepsis Campaign Research Priorities 2023

Area of Science:

• Critical Care Medicine
• Infectious Diseases
• Translational Research

Background:

• Sepsis and septic shock remain critical challenges with high mortality rates.
• Existing evidence for sepsis management has limitations, necessitating updated research priorities.
• The Surviving Sepsis Campaign Research Committee convened experts to identify critical knowledge gaps.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish research priorities for the management, epidemiology, outcomes, and pathophysiology of sepsis and septic shock.
• To update and refine research directions following the latest Surviving Sepsis Campaign Guidelines.
• To provide a roadmap for future research endeavors in sepsis and septic shock.

Main Methods:

• A multiprofessional committee of 16 international experts was formed.
• Experts submitted and ranked research questions across clinical and basic science domains.
• The highest-rated questions were developed into the current research priorities.

Main Results:

• 81 initial research questions were narrowed down to 34 clinical and 10 basic science priorities.
• Top clinical priorities include sepsis screening/identification, organ injury mechanisms, individualized fluid resuscitation, optimal vasopressor strategies, and precision medicine approaches.
• Top basic science priorities focus on improving animal models, defining outcome variables, understanding sepsis effects on the brain and neuro-endocrine-immune interactions, microbiome influence, and genetic/epigenetic factors.

Conclusions:

• Significant knowledge gaps persist despite advances in sepsis management guidelines.
• The identified research priorities are crucial for advancing evidence-based care and reducing sepsis mortality.
• This research agenda aims to guide future studies to improve patient outcomes in sepsis and septic shock.