Sepsis associated encephalopathy

Last revised by Daniel J Bell on 19 Oct 2020

Sepsis-associated encephalopathy (SAE) is a clinical term used to express a diffuse brain dysfunction, from mild delirium to deep coma, occurring secondary to sepsis without overt central nervous system infection. It usually occurs in critically ill patients in intensive care units, especially in those with severe systemic infection 1-3.

Terminology

Sepsis-associated encephalopathy must be differentiated from septic-embolic encephalitis, which refers to a focal or diffuse brain infection, ischemic and hemorrhagic damages following an infective thromboembolism from any part of the body.

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