What has changed in the new 2026 Surviving Sepsis Campaign (SSC) guidelines for adults?

In this episode of the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) Podcast, Kyle B. Enfield, MD, is joined by guideline cochairs Massimo Antonelli, MD, and Hallie C. Prescott, MD, MSc, FCCM, for a practical discussion on the biggest updates in the care of adults with sepsis and septic shock, from appropriate care during transport to the hospital to balancing timely antibiotics with antimicrobial stewardship. The panel also discusses hemodynamic resuscitation, vasopressor selection, global implementation, and the growing recognition that sepsis care does not end at hospital discharge.

The guidelines, “Surviving Sepsis Campaign: International Guidelines for Management of Sepsis and Septic Shock 2026,” were released in the April issue of Critical Care Medicine.

The episode highlights:

How the panel graded the evidence

New sepsis terminology to address variabilities in how different professions, environments, or cultures refer to specific features of sepsis

How the guidelines are shaped to support clinicians practicing in a wide range of care settings, including resource-limited settings

Dr. Antonelli is a professor of anesthesiology and intensive care medicine at Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore in Rome, Italy, and director of the general intensive care unit at Policlinico A. Gemelli University Hospital. Dr. Prescott is a professor of pulmonary and critical care medicine at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA, and a staff physician at the Ann Arbor Veterans Affairs Healthcare System.

This podcast is sponsored by Vantive.

At Vantive, our mission to extend lives and expand possibilities starts with the commitment to continuous learning. We are committed to partnering with the medical community to support vital organ therapy innovation grounded in clinical evidence and focused on improving patient outcomes. The recent publication on endotoxic septic shock centers on an evidence-based approach to address clinical challenges in critical care and beyond as highlighted in our press release.

Resources referenced in this podcast:

Executive Summary: Surviving Sepsis Campaign: International Guidelines for Management of Sepsis and Septic Shock 2026

Surviving Sepsis Campaign: International Guidelines for Management of Sepsis and Septic Shock 2026

Restriction of Intravenous Fluid in ICU Patients with Septic Shock

Early Restrictive or Liberal Fluid Management for Sepsis-Induced Hypotension

SCCMPod-565 CCM: Key Updates for the 2026 Adult Surviving Sepsis Campaign Guidelines

SCCM Podcast

SCCMPod-565 CCM: Key Updates for the 2026 Adult Surviving Sepsis Campaign Guidelines