Improving the Recognition of, and Response to In-Hospital Sepsis

Sepsis is an important cause of patient morbidity and mortality worldwide. Although the associated mortality seems to be decreasing, approximately 20 % of patients with organ dysfunction die in hospital. Since 1991 diagnostic criteria for sepsis focused on the systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS). However, the utility of such criteria has been questioned, and alternative criteria have recently been proposed. It is likely that administration of early appropriate antibiotics and resolution of shock reduce sepsis-associated mortality. Accordingly, strategies need to be developed to improve the early recognition of, and response to patients with sepsis. Such system approaches may include improved acquisition and documentation of vital signs, enhanced recognition of shock, and integration of laboratory and microbiological results using clinical informatics. Hospitals should have guidelines for escalating care of septic patients, antibiotics stewardship programs, and systems to audit morbidity and mortality associated with sepsis.