Emergency medicine journal : EMJ
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To establish the size of the population of patients presenting to a UK emergency department (ED) with systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), sepsis, severe sepsis and septic shock and to determine their mortality and length of stay. ⋯ The high incidence of severe sepsis and septic shock with its attendant high mortality and length of stay is highlighted. If the figures are annualized, this would equate to 650 cases of severe sepsis or septic shock, of which 169 would die. The ED is well placed to improve this outcome by earlier detection and the use of goal directed therapy.