New resources to help health care workers stay alert for sepsis
Sepsis can be deadly if not recognised early and treated quickly.
In the lead up to World Sepsis Day (13 September) the Health Quality & Safety Commission Te Tāhū Hauora has published a suite of new resources to help health workers in hospitals identify and treat sepsis early.
Sepsis is the body’s uncontrolled immune response to an infection, causing it to injure its own tissues and organs. It can lead to shock, multi-organ failure, and sometimes death.
It’s estimated that sepsis affects up to 1% of people in Aotearoa New Zealand each year – more than 50,000 people.
The Commission’s Clinical Director, Dr Martin Thomas, says, “We continue to hear of cases of sepsis including a number of stories in the media in recent months about undiagnosed cases of sepsis tragically resulting in deaths, including of babies and young children.
“In Australia and New Zealand combined, approximately 15,000 patients are admitted to intensive care units with sepsis each year.
“Those who survive have high rates of readmission to hospital, and many suffer long-term disability that puts additional pressure on whānau and carers.
“Sepsis also puts a large financial burden on the health system. The average cost of a hospital admission with sepsis in New Zealand is $11,000.”
Today the Commission has published a suite of tools, clinical and measurement guidance and learning material to support a standard approach to the early recognition and treatment of sepsis in hospitals.
“Sepsis can be successfully treated if caught early, using antibiotics, intravenous fluids and other supportive measures.
“But it can be difficult to diagnose. Common signs of sepsis include a fever, body pain, fast heart rate, rapid breathing, and confusion – which can be mistaken for other illnesses.
“We’ve worked with clinical experts across New Zealand to develop a range of resources, aimed at giving health care workers tools they can use in their day-to-day work to help diagnose sepsis early, save lives and achieve better long-term outcomes for patients and their families.”
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