Implementation of an evidence-based sepsis program in the intensive care unit: evident or not?

doi:10.1186/cc8056

Critical Care

Volume 13
Issue 5

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Commentary

Implementation of an evidence-based sepsis program in the intensive care unit: evident or not?

Dominique M Vandijck¹^,2 , Stijn I Blot¹^,3^,4 and Dirk P Vogelaers¹^,3^,4

¹Department of General Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Ghent University Hospital, De Pintelaan 185, 9000 Ghent, Belgium

²Department of Public Health and Health Economics, Ghent University, De Pintelaan 185, 9000 Ghent, Belgium

³Department of Internal Medicine, Ghent University, De Pintelaan 185, 9000 Ghent, Belgium

⁴Department of Healthcare, University College Ghent, Keramiekstraat 85, 9000 Ghent, Belgium

author email corresponding author email

Critical Care 2009, 13:193doi:10.1186/cc8056


Published:	7 October 2009

See related research by Girardis et al., http://ccforum.com/content/13/5/R143

Abstract

Severe sepsis and septic shock are among the most serious health conditions and are associated with unwelcome clinical, social, and economic outcomes. With the introduction of the Surviving Sepsis Campaign guidelines, the campaign leaders aimed to reduce mortality from severe sepsis by at least one quarter by 2009 by means of a six-point action plan, namely, building awareness among health care professionals, improving early and accurate disease recognition and diagnosis, increasing the use of appropriate treatments and interventions, education, getting better post-intensive care unit access, and developing standard processes of care. However, adherence to these recommendations is a first but crucial step in obtaining these goals. A comprehensive evaluation of both, adherence to a sepsis program and whether this results in better outcomes for patients, is therefore essential to guide informed decision-making regarding the implementation of such an evidence-based protocol.