Welcome to week 2

Hi.

Welcome to week two of the course, Procalcitonin: a Biomarker for Antimicrobial Stewardship. One of the common causes of sepsis is an acute abdominal emergency causing peritonitis. For example, acute appendicitis or a perforated gastric ulcer. We know that for every hour of delay in getting to theatre, the mortality rate increases by 6%. After surgery, our patients will go to the intensive therapy unit and there they will receive intensive treatment to correct end organ damage as a result of the sepsis. In the course this week, hopefully you will increase your understanding of the pathophysiology of sepsis. And there is also a particular focus on the use of procalcitonin in the intensive therapy unit. Enjoy.