Septic shock surveillance should be based on clinical data, not billing codes

(Elsevier Health Sciences) Tracking sepsis rates and outcomes is challenging because it is a heterogeneous syndrome without a definitive 'gold standard' test. In the February issue of CHEST, investigators compared the effectiveness of claims-based surveillance using ICD-9 codes with clinical-based data and specific diagnostic parameters. Their findings suggest that surveillance based on clinical criteria is a more reliable way to track cases of septic shock.