Table 2 Differences of clinical question or recommendation between J-SSCG2020 and SSCG2021

qSOFA score

 Introduce as one of the screening tools

Recommend against using qSOFA as a single screening tool

Adrenaline in patients with sepsis/septic shock

 Suggest against using adrenaline as a second-line vasopressor

Suggest adding adrenaline as the third line agent of vasopressor

Guiding resuscitation

 Suggest using lactate levels as an indicator for initial resuscitation

Suggest guiding resuscitation to decrease serum lactate and capillary refilling time

Renal replacement therapy for hemodynamically unstable patients

 Continuous RRT should be used

No recommendation

Initiation of enteral nutrition

 Suggest initiating at an early period of acute phase (within 24–48 h)

Suggest early (within 72 h) initiation

Vitamin C in septic patients

 Suggest providing vitamin C

Suggest against using IV vitamin C

Mechanical venous thromboembolism prophylaxis

 Suggest using mechanical prophylaxis

Suggest against using mechanical VTE prophylaxis in addition to pharmacological prophylaxis