Here are 10 articles from Becker's Infection Control & Clinical Quality on sepsis and septic shock that caught the attention of readers in 2015.
1. Tackling sepsis prevention, treatment: 7 tips from healthcare providers
Of all the life-threatening conditions hospitals battle on a daily basis, sepsis is a particularly fickle beast. Despite the difficulties associated with diagnosing this complication, healthcare provider organizations offered seven tips and tales of their sepsis detection and treatment practices.
2. New algorithm can help detect sepsis earlier
A computer algorithm developed by researchers from Johns Hopkins in Baltimore could correctly predict septic shock in 85 percent of cases without increasing the number of false positives, according to a study published in Science Translational Medicine.
3. September is sepsis awareness month: 5 recent stories on the life-threatening condition
The CDC recognizes September as Sepsis Awareness Month. In recognition of the occasion, this story highlights five stories from Becker's Infection Control & Clinical Quality on the life-threatening condition that affects more than 1 million U.S. patients each year.
4. 'We know what to do with sepsis': Ohio hospitals renew sepsis mortality reduction efforts
The Ohio Hospital Association celebrated its 100th birthday this year, and it did something a little more involved than chowing on cake and blowing out the candles. The organization formed the Institute for Health Innovation to focus on sepsis care in the state.
5. 3 advances in septic shock diagnosis and treatment
Septic shock affects more than 230,000 U.S. patients each year, but JAMA published new advances in diagnosing and treating this clinical emergency in hopes of reducing that number.
6. 11 hospitals with Joint Commission certification in sepsis treatment
As of April 2015, there are only 11 hospitals in the country that have earned The Joint Commission's certification for consistently adhering to the organization's sepsis treatment standards, highlighted in this story.
7. Physicians missing glaring signs of sepsis: 6 things to know
"Inadequate patient assessment" has been cited as a factor in 75 percent of sepsis malpractice cases, according to a report conducted by the Canadian Medical Protective Association, the body that defends physicians accused of malpractice.
8. Sepsis can be identified using blood test, study finds
Scientists at Stanford (Calif.) University found blood tests can shorten the time it takes to identify sepsis in patients from three days to less than one hour.
9. Readmissions for sepsis significantly more common, costly than heart complications
Readmissions associated with sepsis occur often — at nearly the same rate as readmissions for heart-related complications — and can be extremely costly, according to a University of California Los Angeles study.
10. 4 components of Houston Methodist's sepsis detection, management program
To combat sepsis, Houston Methodist Hospital implemented a four-part detection and management program, which has been very successful, according to a study published in The Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety.