HCT+F vs. HCT Alone in Critically Ill Medical Septic Shock Patients

For three consecutive months, side 1 of the medical critical care unit (MCC1) will receive hydrocortisone alone and side 2 (MCC2) will receive the combination of hydrocortisone and fludrocortisone. After the initial three months, this will be flipped and patients admitted to MCC1 will receive the combination while patients in MCC2 will receive hydrocortisone alone for three consecutive months. This change in group assignments will occur to account for the difference in number of beds between MCC1 and MCC2, and to minimize the potential differences in patient acuity by location.

Inclusion criteria

• Critically ill medical patients requiring addition of stress dose steroid therapy (hydrocortisone) in addition to pressors for septic shock management during ICU stay
• Fludrocortisone administered within 24 hours after initiation of hydrocortisone if in combination therapy group

Exclusion criteria

• Use of fludrocortisone and/or hydrocortisone for any reason other than septic shock management during ICU stay
• Fludrocortisone/hydrocortisone initiated by any service other than critical care medicine
• Prior use of fludrocortisone/hydrocortisone at time of admission (home or outside facility)
• Patients not appropriate for study inclusion as determined by provider discretion
• Patients receiving steroid therapy not in accordance with assigned group per location (MCC1 or MCC2)
• Patients re-admitted to the MCC during the same admission and restarted on vasopressor therapy will be noted during data collection and only the initial admission will be included for analysis
• Any patient receiving greater than one dose of hydrocortisone 100 mg
• Physical or medical contraindication to receiving PO or PER FT (per feeding tube) fludrocortisone