Assessment and management of the septic patient: part 1

Sepsis Awareness to Enhance Early Identification of Sepsis in Emergency Departments

BACKGROUND

Early identification of sepsis continues to be a challenge for nurses in the acute care setting. Often, a gap exists between existing policies for sepsis identification and structured education to support these policies.

METHOD

Using quantitative methodology and descriptive correlational design, this project explored the differences between emergency department nurses who received education on the early identification and treatment of sepsis and emergency department nurses who did not receive this education.

RESULTS

Descriptive statistics and independent t test were used to analyze and compare data between the control and implementation group. The p value was .018, which was statistically significant. The mean time to identify sepsis was decreased by 33 minutes.

CONCLUSION

Using a sepsis standing order set combined with education helped to identify and elevate the care of sepsis patients. Resources such as the Surviving Sepsis Campaign screening tool to identify sepsis helped emergency department nurses to identify sepsis in a timely manner. [J Contin Educ Nurs. 2021;52(1):39-42.].

Group A Streptococcal Infection During Pregnancy and the Postpartum Period

Group A Streptococcus, the causative organism for "childbed fever," continues to pose a threat to women during pregnancy and the postpartum period, despite advances in hygiene and the development of antibiotic therapy. This resilient bacterium has resurfaced with intensified virulence, and, for reasons not entirely clear, causes severe disease in some women. Sepsis and toxic shock syndrome caused by Group A Streptococcus contribute to the alarming rates of maternal morbidity and mortality in the United States. Early recognition of the subtle signs and symptoms of sepsis is critical to decrease the risk for mortality; however, early signs can be elusive during the perinatal period because of the physiologic changes of pregnancy. Care management requires a coordinated, collaborative, multidisciplinary team approach. Sepsis is a clinical emergency, and health care providers need to respond as a well-prepared team.

Assessment and management of the septic patient: part 2

Sepsis has gained increasing publicity in recent years, and there is now a strong focus of clinical education and training following the Surviving Sepsis Campaign. The assessment and management of a septic patients is far from simple and requires a systematic approach in both identifying and managing the condition. This second part explores sepsis care bundles and the research that underpins each of the interventions. These discussions will enable nurses to understand why each component of the sepsis care bundle is important and thus enable them to rapidly prioritise care, as early effective interventions have been shown to optimise patient outcomes.