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New guidance on sepsis aims to address the threat of antibiotic resistance

New national sepsis guidelines have been published by the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges that propose significant changes in the way people with suspected sepsis are treated with antibiotics.

New national sepsis guidelines have been published by the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges that propose significant changes in the way people with suspected sepsis are treated with antibiotics.

Following close collaboration across the UK and Ireland’s medical royal colleges, the guidelines aim to empower healthcare professionals (HCPs) to recognise and treat the very sickest people with sepsis immediately (within one hour) and assess and treat those who are less ill within three hours.

The extended time for investigation of those less sick enables the medical team to accurately identify the source of infection and prescribe the correct antibiotic, reducing the risk of antibiotic overuse and subsequent antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

The Academy’s new guidance proposes that patients with suspected sepsis are assessed via an updated National Early Warning Score, which assigns a score to a patient’s vital signs, and provides an overall number that determines the speed and seniority of clinical response.

Sepsis is a medical emergency

Sepsis is the immune system’s overreaction to an infection or injury. It can be triggered by any infection €“ bacterial, fungal, or viral. Normally our immune system fights infection €“ but sometimes it attacks the body’s own organs and tissues. Sepsis is a medical emergency, and if signs are present, urgent medical attention must be sought immediately to help avoid organ failure and death.

However, misuse or overuse of antibiotics leads to AMR, which has been declared a top 10 global public health threat by the World Health Organization (WHO). Estimates suggest that almost 5 million deaths are associated with – and over 1.2 million deaths are attributed to – AMR bacteria. Controlled use of antibiotics is important to help reduce the threat of AMR.

In response to the new guidance, the UK Sepsis Trust, have updated their resources to support the clinical response. These include:

  • The 6th Edition of the UK Sepsis Trust’s ‘The Sepsis Manual’, a free educational tool for HCPs, which includes the Trust’s ‘Sepsis Six’ treatment pathway, which reduces the risk of patients dying.
  • A suite of clinical screening and action tools, compatible with the new Academy guidelines, to guide HCP decision-making.
  • A series of e-learning modules for HCPs and the public to help readers understand, identify, and manage sepsis (in development).

Five people die with sepsis every hour in the UK. Globally, the figure rises to one person every three seconds. Of those who survive, 40% suffer permanent, life changing after-effects. However, with early diagnosis, sepsis can often be effectively treated.

Dr Ron Daniels, CEO of the UK Sepsis Trust, said: “Ten years ago, when the UK Sepsis Trust was established, sepsis was not a term widely understood outside of intensive care units. Increased awareness of, and education around, the grave dangers of sepsis over the last decade have culminated in the important new guidance published today.

“To equip those working tirelessly on the frontline to recognise and manage sepsis decisively and responsibly, the Trust is delighted to support implementation of the guidelines via our resources and tools which will help stop this life-threatening condition in its tracks.”

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