Sepsis-associated encephalopathy

Sepsis-associated encephalopathy (SAE) is a clinical syndrome that is associated with diffuse brain dysfunction and is secondary to infection in the body. Severity of SAE ranges from mild delirium to deep coma, and mortality reaches almost 70% in severe cases. In this Review, Gofton and Young provide an overview of the epidemiology and clinical presentation of SAE. They discuss current evidence relating to the pathophysiology and prognosis of SAE, and present a diagnostic approach and management strategy for patients with the disease.