New national guidance addressing sepsis
pharmafile | May 13, 2022 | News story | Medical Communications |
New guidelines proposing significant changes to the way people with suspected sepsis are treated with antibiotics have been published. The guidelines encourage healthcare professionals to recognise and treat the very sickest people with sepsis within one hour, and assess and treat those who are less ill within three.
The extended time for investigation of those who are less sick enables medics to accurately identify the source of infection and prescribe the correct antibiotic, reducing the risk of antibiotic overuse and subsequent AMR.
Additionally, the UK Sepsis Trust is also developing refreshed resources to support medics implementing the guidelines.
“Ten years ago, when the UK Sepsis Trust was established, sepsis was not a term widely understood outside of intensive care units. Increased awareness of, and education around, the grave dangers of sepsis over the last decade have culminated in the important new guidance published today,” advised Dr Ron Daniels, CEO of the UK Sepsis Trust. “To equip those working tirelessly on the frontline to recognise and manage sepsis decisively and responsibly, the Trust is delighted to support implementation of the guidelines via our resources and tools which will help stop this life-threatening condition in its tracks.”
Five people die with sepsis every hour in the UK, and globally, the figure rises to one person every three seconds. Of those who survive, 40% suffer permanent, life changing after-effects. However, with early diagnosis, sepsis can often be effectively treated.
Following close collaboration across the UK and Ireland’s medical royal colleges, the guidelines from the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges (the Academy) empower healthcare professionals (HCPs) to recognise and treat the very sickest people with sepsis immediately (within one hour) and assess and treat those who are less ill within three hours.
The Academy’s new guidance proposes that patients with suspected sepsis are assessed via an updated National Early Warning Score, which assigns a score to a patient’s vital signs, and provides an overall number that determines the speed and seniority of clinical response. An equivalent Paediatric Early Warning Score is currently being trialled for children.
Ana Ovey
