Table 1.

Urgency of source control intervention (after [23])

Level of urgency	Timing of intervention	Context
1	<1-2 h after diagnosis	Rapidly progressive disease e.g. necrotizing fasciitis, intra-abdominal infection with abdominal compartment syndrome
2	As soon as patient physiology allows	Limited deferral is acceptable provided antibiotics are administered and patient is not deteriorating e.g. peritonitis
3	As soon as infectious process has demarcated	Adequate source control is facilitated and probability of collateral damage lower e.g. infected pancreatic necrosis in a stable patient