Table 1.

The 2021 Surviving Sepsis Campaign (SSC) recommendations on timing of first antimicrobial administration

	Shock is present	Shock is absent
Sepsis is definite or probable	For adults with possible septic shock or a high likelihood of sepsis, we recommend administering antimicrobials immediately, ideally within 1 h of recognition
Sepsis is possible	For adults with possible septic shock or a high likelihood of sepsis, we recommend administering antimicrobials immediately, ideally within 1 h of recognition	For adults with possible sepsis without shock, we recommend a time-limited course of rapid investigation and if concern for infection persists, the administration of antimicrobials within 3 h from the time when sepsis was first recognized
Infection is unlikely	–	For adults with a low likelihood of infection and without shock, we suggest deferring antimicrobials while continuing to closely monitor the patient