The Japanese Clinical Practice Guidelines for Management of Sepsis and Septic Shock 2024.

Summary

J-SSCG 2024 delivers 42 GRADE-based recommendations, 7 good practice statements, and 22 background questions across nine domains of sepsis care, using GRADE and a modified Delphi process. It targets initial and specialty management, providing practical guidance that can standardize care and improve outcomes in Japan.

Key Findings

• Nine domains covered, including diagnosis/source control, antimicrobials, initial resuscitation, blood purification, DIC, adjuncts, PICS, patient/family care, and pediatrics.
• 42 GRADE-based recommendations, 7 good practice statements, and 22 background questions were issued.
• Recommendations developed via GRADE and finalized using a modified Delphi voting process among all committee members.

Clinical Implications

Supports timely recognition, source control, antimicrobial optimization, initial resuscitation, and management of complications (e.g., DIC, PICS), guiding multidisciplinary teams across EDs and ICUs.

Limitations

• As a guideline, direct new clinical data are not generated; recommendations depend on evidence quality of included studies.
• Implementation and adherence in diverse clinical settings may vary, requiring local adaptation.

Future Directions

Prospective evaluation of implementation, adherence, and outcome improvements; updates as new RCTs/real-world evidence emerge; development of decision-support tools.