Sepsis Response Team

Abstract

The transition from sepsis to severe life-threatening disease frequently develops well before admission to an intensive care unit (ICU), often in the pre-hospital setting, the emergency department (ED), general medical-surgical floors, operating room or the outpatient clinic setting. One would hope that as soon as possible after the sepsis syndrome occurs, treatment with resuscitation fluids, restoration of adequate oxygen delivery to the tissues, and antimicrobial therapy would begin. However, optimal care may be delayed for many reasons, including lack of recognition, ED overcrowding and long wait times for ICU beds. Delays to medical emergency teams (MET) and rapid response team involvement may further hinder the availability of expert care to prevent morbidity and mortality. For years we have recognized that delay in care negatively impacts outcome for trauma, myocardial infarction, and stroke.1–3 There is now robust evidence that treatment delay can also negatively impact outcome in sepsis.4–7 This chapter will review the evidence for early intervention in sepsis, models of delivery, and potential obstacles. While a specific team response is not required, a Rapid Response System with a trained efferent limb may provide one mechanism for providing a rapid, coordinated team response to patients presenting to the hospital with signs of sepsis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]