Abstract: OBJECTIVE To explore the treatment effect of acupuncture at Zusanli and Guanyuan on septic shock patients, so as to improve the prognosis of patients. METHODS A total of 138 cases of patients with septic shock in the hospital from Jan. 2013 to Jun. 2016 were randomly divided into acupuncture group and control group, with 69 cases in each group. Patients in control group were treated with routine treatment of septic shock, and in acupuncture group patient were treated with daily acupuncture at Zusanli and Guanyuan on the basis of routive treatment. The pathogens characters in patients with septic shock was analyzed, and shock index, APACHE Ⅱ score, and serum calcitonin (PCT)level of the two groups before and after the treatment were compared. RESULTS The infection sites of patients with septic shock were mainly lung, abdominal cavity and biliary tract, accounting for 39.1%, 23.2%, and 21%. Totally 153 strains of bacteria were isolated, including 91 strains of gram-negative bacteria, accounting for 59.5%, 52 strains of gram-positive bacteria, accounting for 34%, and 10 strains of fungi, accounting for 6.5%. The shock indexes of patients in the two groups at 24 h after treatment were significantly lower than those before treatment, the shock index in acupuncture group was significantly lower than that in control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). The APACHE Ⅱ scores of patients in the two groups were significantly decreased than those before treatment, and the APACHE Ⅱ score in acupuncture group was significantly lower than that in control group, with significant difference(P<0.05). After 7 d treatment, the levels of PCT in the patients of the two groups were significantly lower than those before treatment, the level of PCT in acupuncture group was significantly lower than that in control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.01). CONCLUSION Based on routine treatment, acupuncture at Zusanli and Guanyuan can significantly improve the therapeutic effect of patients with septic shock, and has a great impact on the APACHE Ⅱ score and PCT level, so it is worthy of clinical promotion.