Ulinastatin Treatment Reduces the Incidence of Sepsis-associated Encephalopathy

Inclusion Criteria: * age ≥18 years * ICU stay ≥24 hours * ulfillment of the diagnostic criteria for sepsis according to the Sepsis-3 definition, which included: * (a) suspected or confirmed infection based on clinical evidence and/or positive microbiological findings; * (b) Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score ≥2 points Exclusion Criteria: * cognitive impairment related to sedation * pregnancy * inability to communicate effectively due to visual, auditory, or language disorders * primary central nervous system diseases (e.g., cerebrovascular disease, central nervous system infection, autoimmune encephalitis, or epileptic seizures) * intolerance or allergy to benzodiazepines, or a history of myasthenia gravis, schizophrenia, or severe depressive disorder * metabolic encephalopathy (including hypoglycemia, diabetic ketoacidosis, hepatic encephalopathy, pulmonary encephalopathy, or uremic encephalopathy) * poisoning * skull fracture or intracranial injury