Dr. A. Artigas and R. Ferrer received the Global Sepsis Alliance award for best non-governmental initiative for the Edusepsis project
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La Global Sepsis Alliance, a world non-profit organization, present in 70 countries with the aim of combating sepsis, thanked the director of the Critically Ill Area of Sabadell Hospital, Antoni Artigas, and the director of the Intensive Care Unit of Sabadell. the MutuaTerrassa University Hospital and ex-professional of Parc Taulí, Ricard Ferrer, his efforts in the fight against sepsis, being an example for other organizations around the world to show what can be done with exceptional enthusiasm and commitment.
Severe sepsis - a widespread infection of the patient - is one of the most common diseases and one of the leading causes of death among hospitalized patients. The most severe form of sepsis is septic shock, which causes a sustained decrease in blood pressure that prevents the proper supply of oxygen to the tissues. Currently in Catalonia it is estimated that 20 cases of sepsis occur every year and that one in five patients dies.
The Edusepsis project was started in Spain by Dr. Artigas and Ferrer during the years 2006 and 2007. The study, which had the active participation of 59 intensive care units throughout the state, consisted of the implementation of an educational program aimed at disseminating the therapeutic guidelines for sepsis and improving all therapeutic aspects of patients with severe sepsis: earlier administration of antibiotics, improvement in analytical and microbiological sampling, greater optimization of vital and metabolic constants and improvements in the administration of specific treatments for sepsis, such as activated protein C or corticosteroids. The results were a 10% reduction in hospital mortality of patients affected by severe sepsis in hospitals throughout Spain, with the saving of 500 anal lives
In 2008 the prestigious American magazine Jama published the study. Edusepsis also received the 'Las mejores ideas de la Sanidad 2008' awards given by Diario Médico and the 'Dr, Josep Font' Award from Mutual Medica de Barcelona.