Sponsor Hospital Council of Greater Bridgeport

1.01 Adult Sepsis/Septic Shock Alert

Sepsis is defined as a systemic inflammatory response to the body in response to infection. The infecting pathogen triggers an overwhelming immune response causing widespread inflammation, micro-vascular blood clots and fluid shifts impairing blood flow and oxygenation to critical organs such as the brain, lungs, kidneys, and/or liver. When sepsis is not suspected or treated promptly, hypotension, organ damage and/or MODS may result.

I. Must be over 18 Years Old

II. Notify the receiving emergency department of a SEPSIS ALERT if the patient presents with AT LEAST TWO (2) of the following physiological criteria:

• Temperature less than 96.8 degrees (F) or greater than 100.4 degrees (F) or feels clinically febrile
• Heart rate greater than 90 beats per minute
• Respirations greater than 20 breaths per minute OR the patient is mechanically ventilated
• New onset altered mental status or a change in mental status from the patient’s baseline
• Hypoperfusion evidenced by SBP <90 and / MAP<65

AND has a history of confirmed infection or history highly suggestive of infection including but not limited to:

• Recent antibiotic therapy
• Recent medical/surgical infection and/or recent hospitalization
• Indwelling Foley catheter
• Tubes into body cavities (PICC, central lines, PEG tubes, etc.)
• Immuno-compromised patients ( AIDS, cancer, etc.)
• Chemotherapy with the last 6 weeks
• Resident of a skilled nursing or rehabilitation facility
• Evidence of cellulitis, dysuria, cough with or without sputum production, bed sore or other non-healing wounds, diarrhea, or abdominal pain

III. Pre-hospital management of the SEPSIS/SEPTIC SHOCK patient will follow treatment protocol 2.19

Revised: 12/2016-07/18/2017 by T.Sheehan