Emergency care staff can improve survival rates from sepsis

SummaryPatients die from sepsis. Reports of mortality as high as 50% are associated with patients who have severe sepsis. Often the signs and symptoms are unmanaged within the emergency care environment. This paper discusses the Surviving Sepsis Campaign and outlines a number of management steps that practitioners caring for patients within emergency care can use to reduce mortality. The sepsis resuscitation bundle is discussed in depth as its goals can be achieved within the emergency department. A number of relevant web sites are provided that guide interested readers to other information on the Surviving Sepsis Campaign.