March 29, 2021
As we embrace and celebrate the exciting news that F ED has been provided support to initiate a Choosing Wisely project related IV cannulation, we look at back to the last time we implemented a successful infection prevention and management project.
Sepsis is the overwhelming response of the body to severe infection. Sepsis is a complex syndrome that can be difficult to define, diagnose, and treat. It is a global threat.
Sepsis causes more deaths than prostate cancer, breast cancer, and HIV/AIDS combined. Globally, an estimated 20 to 30 million cases of sepsis occurs each year.1 In Australia the incidence of sepsis continues to rise.2 At the Royal Melbourne Hospital the mortality related to sepsis was estimated to be 13.5%.
Sepsis is a medical emergency and early recognition and early treatment can save lives. Rapid initiation of simple, timely interventions including antimicrobials and intravenous fluids can decrease the risk of dying.3,4
Sepsis is a whole of team approach. Each time you assess your patient think about whether or not this could be sepsis.
Key Elements
If you suspect Sepsis – you should be placing the patient on the Sepsis pathway and implementing the 6 key Actions within 60 Mins.
Figure 1: WH ED Adult Sepsis Pathway
