[Sepsis care in Germany: quality indicators on diagnostics and treatment of sepsis]

In Germany quality indicators from the Institute for Quality Assurance and Transparency in the Healthcare System (IQTIG) on the diagnostics and treatment of sepsis in hospitals will be compulsorily introduced in 2026. Currently, there are few data on the extent to which quality indicators in the form of measures to recognize and treat sepsis are already established.

This was a secondary analysis of the European Sepsis Care Survey, an international, cross-sectional study of the organization of sepsis care in acute care hospitals. Head physicians from hospitals in all federal states and at all levels of care in Germany were systematically invited to participate. The analysis investigated seven quality indicators of the IQTIG on the diagnostics and treatment of sepsis.

In Germany 253 hospitals (20% of all acute care hospitals in Germany) were analyzed. Standardized screening for early detection of sepsis existed in 34.8% (95% confidence interval, CI 27.9-42.3%) of hospitals and standardized measures for sepsis management in 36.6% (95% CI 29.2-44.5%) of hospitals. There were differences between emergency departments, general wards and intensive care units (p < 0.05) but no significant differences between university and non-university hospitals. Regular training of medical and nursing staff in all departments existed in 4.7% (95% CI 2.3-8.5%) of hospitals.

In Germany only a few hospitals had hospital-wide standardized measures for the early detection and treatment of sepsis. Regular training of medical and nursing staff to improve quality was rarely implemented. Against this background, the establishment of quality improvement programs is urgently needed but at the same time requires clear structures and sufficient resources.