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Aim: To determine how the early treatment guidelines were adopted, and what was the impact of early treatment on mortality in septic shock in Finland. Methods: This study was a sub-analysis of a prospective observational investigation of severe sepsis and septic shock in Finland (Finnsepsis). All patients with severe sepsis over 4 months in 24 intensive care units were included in the Finnsepsis study. Patients with community-acquired septic shock, admitted directly from the emergency department to the intensive care unit, were included in the sub-study. The following treatment targets were evaluated: measurement of lactate during the first 6 h; analysis of blood culture before antibiotics; commencement of antibiotics within 3 h; attainment of a mean arterial pressure of ≥65 mmHg, central venous pressure of ≥8 mmHg and central venous oxygen saturation of ≥70% or mixed venous oxygen saturation of ≥65% during the first 6 h. Results: Of the 92 patients who fulfilled the inclusion criteria, six reached all treatment targets and 33 reached four or more targets (group ≥4). The hospital mortality of group ≥4 was 24% (8/33), compared with 42% (25/59) for those who reached three or fewer targets (group ≤3) ( P= 0.08). The 1-year mortality rates of group ≥4 and group ≤3 were 36% and 59% ( P= 0.04), respectively. In logistic regression analysis, a delayed initiation of antimicrobials was associated with an unfavourable outcome ( P= 0.04). Conclusions: Compliance with international guidelines for the early treatment of septic shock was poor in Finnish hospitals. A failure to diagnose early and to start appropriate treatment was reflected in the high mortality. The delayed start of antibiotics was the most important individual variable leading to a high mortality in this nationwide study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]