According to a Vital Signs report from the CDC, roughly 7 in 10 patients with sepsis had used healthcare services frequently or had chronic conditions that required frequent medical care. This represents an opportunity for healthcare providers to improve sepsis prevention and treatment.
"When sepsis occurs, it should be treated as a medical emergency," said Tom Frieden, MD, director of the CDC. "Doctors and nurses can prevent sepsis and also the devastating effects of sepsis, and patients and families can watch for sepsis and ask, 'Could this be sepsis?'"
The Vital Signs report, released Tuesday, lists the following five roles healthcare providers can play in recognizing and treating sepsis and preventing it in the first place.
1. Prevent infections by following infection control requirements, performing proper hand-washing and making sure patients are vaccinated against flu and pneumonia.
2. Educate patients and families about how to prevent infections, manage chronic conditions and to seek medical care if the patient worsens.
3. Know the signs of sepsis — shivering, fever, extreme discomfort, clammy skin, confusion, shortness of breath and high heart rate — to speed treatment.
4. Act quickly if sepsis is suspected by ordering tests to determine if an infection is present and start medical care immediately.
5. Check on patient progress often and reassess antibiotic therapy in one to two days to change therapy as needed.