SEPSIS EXAM PRACTICE QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS RATIONALES
2026 Q&A | INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
SECTION I: DEFINITIONS, EPIDEMIOLOGY & RECOGNITION
1. According to the current Sepsis-3 definition, sepsis is best described as:
• A) Systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) due to infection
• B) Life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host
response to infection
• C) Infection with a positive blood culture
• D) Hypotension requiring vasopressors
Correct Answer: B
*Rationale: The Sepsis-3 definition (2016) defines sepsis as life-threatening organ
dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection. SIRS criteria are
no longer the primary diagnostic framework. Organ dysfunction is operationalized
as an increase in the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score of ≥2
points .*
2. A 65-year-old patient with suspected infection has a qSOFA score of 2. What
does this score indicate?
• A) Low risk of sepsis
• B) High risk of poor outcomes, prompting further evaluation for sepsis
• C) No risk of organ dysfunction
• D) The patient requires immediate ICU admission
,Correct Answer: B
*Rationale: qSOFA (quick SOFA) consists of three criteria: altered mental status,
respiratory rate ≥22/min, and systolic blood pressure ≤100 mmHg. A score of ≥2
suggests a higher risk of poor outcomes and should prompt further evaluation for
sepsis. However, qSOFA is not recommended as a single screening tool; the SSC
recommends using NEWS, NEWS2, or MEWS for screening .*
3. Which of the following is the MOST common source of sepsis?
• A) Urinary tract
• B) Skin and soft tissue
• C) Respiratory system
• D) Abdomen
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The respiratory system is the most common site of sepsis. However, in
patients older than 65 years, the genitourinary tract is the most common source .
4. A 72-year-old patient presents with fever, confusion, and hypotension. The
patient has a history of diabetes and CKD. Which risk factor is MOST associated
with increased sepsis morbidity and mortality?
• A) Age >65 years
• B) Diabetes mellitus
• C) Chronic kidney disease
• D) All of the above
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Older age (>65), immunosuppression (including diabetes), chronic
organ dysfunction (renal failure, liver failure), and previous hospitalization are all
, associated with greater morbidity and mortality in sepsis. The elderly and
immunocompromised are at particularly high risk and may present without fever .
5. For acutely ill patients in the hospital, the 2026 SSC guidelines recommend
using which tool for sepsis screening?
• A) qSOFA alone
• B) NEWS, NEWS2, MEWS, or SIRS
• C) SOFA score only
• D) Procalcitonin level alone
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The 2026 SSC guidelines "recommend" using NEWS, NEWS2, MEWS, or
SIRS over qSOFA as a single tool to screen for sepsis. qSOFA is not recommended as
a single screening tool. Sepsis is a clinical diagnosis and should not be ruled in or
out using a single biomarker or diagnostic test .
6. A 55-year-old patient with suspected sepsis has a lactate of 4.2 mmol/L. What
is the clinical significance of this finding?
• A) Normal lactate; no intervention needed
• B) Elevated lactate indicating tissue hypoperfusion; this is a key criterion for
sepsis-induced hypoperfusion
• C) Lactate elevation is only significant in septic shock
• D) Lactate is not useful in sepsis diagnosis
Correct Answer: B
*Rationale: Lactate >2 mmol/L is a marker of tissue hypoperfusion and is one of
the criteria for sepsis-induced hypoperfusion. The SSC guidelines suggest
measuring blood lactate. Elevated lactate is associated with increased mortality
and should trigger fluid resuscitation and further evaluation .*
ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS RATIONALES
2026 Q&A | INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
SECTION I: DEFINITIONS, EPIDEMIOLOGY & RECOGNITION
1. According to the current Sepsis-3 definition, sepsis is best described as:
• A) Systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) due to infection
• B) Life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host
response to infection
• C) Infection with a positive blood culture
• D) Hypotension requiring vasopressors
Correct Answer: B
*Rationale: The Sepsis-3 definition (2016) defines sepsis as life-threatening organ
dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection. SIRS criteria are
no longer the primary diagnostic framework. Organ dysfunction is operationalized
as an increase in the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score of ≥2
points .*
2. A 65-year-old patient with suspected infection has a qSOFA score of 2. What
does this score indicate?
• A) Low risk of sepsis
• B) High risk of poor outcomes, prompting further evaluation for sepsis
• C) No risk of organ dysfunction
• D) The patient requires immediate ICU admission
,Correct Answer: B
*Rationale: qSOFA (quick SOFA) consists of three criteria: altered mental status,
respiratory rate ≥22/min, and systolic blood pressure ≤100 mmHg. A score of ≥2
suggests a higher risk of poor outcomes and should prompt further evaluation for
sepsis. However, qSOFA is not recommended as a single screening tool; the SSC
recommends using NEWS, NEWS2, or MEWS for screening .*
3. Which of the following is the MOST common source of sepsis?
• A) Urinary tract
• B) Skin and soft tissue
• C) Respiratory system
• D) Abdomen
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The respiratory system is the most common site of sepsis. However, in
patients older than 65 years, the genitourinary tract is the most common source .
4. A 72-year-old patient presents with fever, confusion, and hypotension. The
patient has a history of diabetes and CKD. Which risk factor is MOST associated
with increased sepsis morbidity and mortality?
• A) Age >65 years
• B) Diabetes mellitus
• C) Chronic kidney disease
• D) All of the above
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Older age (>65), immunosuppression (including diabetes), chronic
organ dysfunction (renal failure, liver failure), and previous hospitalization are all
, associated with greater morbidity and mortality in sepsis. The elderly and
immunocompromised are at particularly high risk and may present without fever .
5. For acutely ill patients in the hospital, the 2026 SSC guidelines recommend
using which tool for sepsis screening?
• A) qSOFA alone
• B) NEWS, NEWS2, MEWS, or SIRS
• C) SOFA score only
• D) Procalcitonin level alone
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The 2026 SSC guidelines "recommend" using NEWS, NEWS2, MEWS, or
SIRS over qSOFA as a single tool to screen for sepsis. qSOFA is not recommended as
a single screening tool. Sepsis is a clinical diagnosis and should not be ruled in or
out using a single biomarker or diagnostic test .
6. A 55-year-old patient with suspected sepsis has a lactate of 4.2 mmol/L. What
is the clinical significance of this finding?
• A) Normal lactate; no intervention needed
• B) Elevated lactate indicating tissue hypoperfusion; this is a key criterion for
sepsis-induced hypoperfusion
• C) Lactate elevation is only significant in septic shock
• D) Lactate is not useful in sepsis diagnosis
Correct Answer: B
*Rationale: Lactate >2 mmol/L is a marker of tissue hypoperfusion and is one of
the criteria for sepsis-induced hypoperfusion. The SSC guidelines suggest
measuring blood lactate. Elevated lactate is associated with increased mortality
and should trigger fluid resuscitation and further evaluation .*
