Conclusions

In this cohort of patients with septic shock, admission blood lactate level was not identified as an independent or robust predictor of 28-day mortality. Although blood lactate remains an essential diagnostic and triage biomarker in the early management of septic shock, its prognostic value should not be based on a single measurement obtained at admission. Instead, lactate interpretation should be dynamic and integrated with comprehensive clinical, hemodynamic, and organ function assessment. Future studies focusing on lactate kinetics, particularly lactate clearance, are warranted to better define its prognostic role and to refine management strategies in our clinical context.