Advances in metabolomics in critically ill patients with sepsis and septic shock

Sepsis is associated with high morbidity and mortality rates in hospitalized patients. This condition has a complex pathophysiology and can swiftly progress to the severe form of septic shock, which can lead to organ dysfunction, organ failure, and death. Metabolomics has transformed the clinical and research topography of sepsis, with application to prognosis, diagnosis, and risk assessment. Metabolomics involves detecting and analyzing levels of metabolites in blood (plasma, serum, and/or erythrocytes) and urine; when applied in sepsis, this technology can improve our understanding of the pathogenesis of the disease and aid in better disease management by identifying early biomarkers. For this review article, "metabolomics," "sepsis," and "septic shock" were keywords used to search records in various databases including PubMed and Scopus from their inception until December 2023. This review article summarizes information regarding metabolic profiling performed in sepsis and septic shock and illustrates how metabolomics is advancing the diagnosis and prognosis of patients with sepsis.