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Sepsis in emergency medicine toolkit
Adult screening and treatment
Recommendation
Adopt and implement an evidence-based sepsis screening tool and treatment protocol for adults in the emergency department.
Rationale
Timely treatment of sepsis is critical to survival – the risk of dying from septic shock increases 7.6 percent for every hour that passes.
Utilizing a standardized screening tool in the emergency department is an effective strategy to aid in the early recognition of sepsis.
Use of a standard treatment bundle for patients with severe sepsis and septic shock is effective in reducing mortality.
Tools
Sepsis response pathway
ED sepsis screening tool
Sepsis screening and triage algorithm tool
Nurse-initiated protocol
Best practices
Lowell General adopts a nurse-driven protocol for early sepsis treatment
(Lowell General Hospital, Lowell)
Routine procalcitonin testing helps clinicians identify and treat sepsis early
(Signature Healthcare Brockton Hospital, Brockton)
Partnership with local EMS agencies improves early identification of sepsis patients
(Baystate Medical Center, Springfield)
Outreach to nursing homes improves early identification of sepsis
(Berkshire Medical Center, Pittsfield)
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Adult screening and treatment
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Sepsis care in emergency medicine