How Are We Improving Care?
For British Columbians, these findings provide evidence that bolsters efforts currently underway in the province. The BC Emergency Sepsis Guidelines, created through a provincial Sepsis Clinical Expert Group led by the BC Patient Safety & Quality Council (BCPSQC), advise emergency departments to draw blood cultures prior to administering antibiotics. The evidence now corroborates this advice.
From 2012-2013, when the guidelines were first published, to 2016-2017, the in-hospital sepsis rate for British Columbia has improved, going from above to below the national average (4.6 to 3.5 cases per 1,000 patients).
“These findings have the potential to save lives,” says Sweet, who is also the Provincial Clinical Lead for the BC Sepsis Network at BCPSQC. “The more we know about how to treat sepsis and septic shock, the better our chances at reducing mortality and morbidity. Now we need to ensure these guidelines are being followed in emergency rooms and hospital wards around the world.”
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