- A study published in theAmerican Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, in collaboration with I3PT, highlights critical gaps in the detection and management of sepsis in European hospitals
- Sepsis is a disease that causes 11 million deaths per year worldwide, equivalent to 20% of all deaths.
It is estimated that up to 50 million people suffer from sepsis every year in the world, with more than 4 million neonatal and infant cases, and 270.000 cases of maternal sepsis. According to data from the Global Sepsis Alliance, this disease —which arises when the body responds in an extreme way to an infection, damaging its own tissues and organs— causes more than11 million deaths annually, that is 1 death every 2,8 seconds.
Despite its severity and being a global medical emergency , as health authorities point out, public awareness of this condition is extremely low, and it does not receive the attention of other diseases, such as cancer.Moreover, according to a study recently published in the journal American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, face exist serious shortcomings in sepsis care in hospitals.
A Global Study on Hospital Sepsis Management
An international group of researchers has conducted a study to evaluate sepsis care in hospitals, analyzing compliance with clinical guidelines and recommendations, as well as the availability of infrastructure for patient care. The study is based on a survey that involved 1.023 hospitals from 69 countries, mostly in Europe.
The researcher of the Translational Research Group in the Critical Patient at the Parc Taulí Research and Innovation Institute (I3PT-CERCA) Antoni Artigas, has led the study in Catalonia.
"We analyzed hospital programs for early sepsis detection, the application of standardized treatment, the availability of adequate infrastructure, and quality improvement strategies —essential components in any hospital's sepsis plan," explained Artigas.
Urgent Need for Improved Sepsis Care
The study concludes that, although clear guidelines exist, it is necessary to improve sepsis care worldwide and implement more quality programs and protocols to reduce the high mortality rates associated with this condition, according to Artigas.
Specifically, the research indicates that only 54% of emergency services, 48% of hospital wards and the 62% of ICUs perform regular screening to identify sepsis. Likewise, the standardized management is implemented in only 57% of emergency services, 45% of hospital wards and 70% of ICUs.
The study also warns that less than 10% of hospitals have access to 24/7 microbiological diagnostics, which can delay appropriate treatment. In addition, only 4,6% of hospitals have specific sepsis programs , and just 9,8% have implemented quality improvement initiatives.
The results show that "there is significant room for improvement in a large number of hospitals, mainly in Europe", emphasized Artigas, adding: "More efforts from all stakeholders are needed to provide more comprehensive and high-quality care. The severity of sepsis demands it".
Future Research
The study has led to a new research, coordinated by Artigas, which compares sepsis management strategies in all hospitals in Catalonia —obtaining a completely representative sample— with those of the European Union countries"We hope to publish the results soon, which we have seen are very favorable for our hospitals, thanks to the implementation throughout the region of the Sepsis Code in 2017”, the researcher said.
Pathogenic bacteria in the bloodstream with red blood cells illustrating septicemia and sepsis in a human body
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