Treatment priorities for septic shock.

Septic shock is an emergency that is best treated by establishing priorities beforehand. The first priority is early recognition. The earliest recognizable clinical presentation is fever and hyperventilation. The second priority is augmenting normal compensatory mechanisms by intravenous infusion of crystalloid, with measurement of the response so that vasoactive drugs can be instituted as needed. The third priority is selected antibiotic therapy and drainage of pus. The fourth is corticosteroid therapy if the patient's response has been suboptimal.