Report Highlights Burden Frontline Providers Face in Recognizing, Preventing Sepsis.

Overview

Although much of the research on sepsis has focused on early recognition and treatment, the CDC issued a new report highlighting opportunities to prevent the condition from developing. To facilitate improvements in this area, investigators highlighted data showing which infections and healthcare factors are associated most commonly with sepsis so that providers can improve their efforts. Investigators reviewed the medical records of 246 adult patients diagnosed with severe sepsis or septic shock at four New York hospitals, finding that the most common types of infections associated with sepsis were respiratory tract, urinary tract, gastrointestinal, and skin and soft tissue. Among 79 pediatric cases, the most common infections included respiratory tract, gastrointestinal, and bloodstream. Investigators found that sepsis occurred most often in patients with one or more comorbidities and that most developed infections that led to sepsis outside the hospital. Given that many patients at highest risk for sepsis frequently encounter the healthcare system, there is an opportunity for providers to better educate patients about prevention and early warning signs.