Successful prospective quality improvement programme for the identification and management of patients at risk of sepsis in hospital

ObjectiveThis audit aimed to improve the speed and completeness of delivery of treatment to urology patients at risk of sepsis in the hospital.Patients and methodsPatients were prospectively included if they developed a new-onset systemic inflammatory response syndrome, were reviewed by a doctor who thought this was due to infection and prescribed antibiotics. We measured median time to antibiotic administration (TTABx) as the primary outcome. Factors associated with delays in management were identified, targeted quality improvement interventions implemented and then reaudited.ResultsThere were 74 patients in the baseline cohort and 69 following interventions. Median TTABx fell from 3.6 (1.9–6.9) hours to 1.7 (1.0–3.8) pConclusionA period of baseline prospective study, followed by tailored quality improvement initiatives, can significantly improve the speed and quality of sepsis management for inpatients on an acute hospital ward.