Prehospital management of a patient with severe sepsis

Abstract

Paramedics have made a significant contribution to reductions in mortality for the time-critical conditions of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and major trauma (Myocardial Ischaemia National Audit Project (MINAP), 2008), and they will be instrumental in helping to reduce stroke mortality in the near future (Department of Health 2006). These improvements have, and will be achieved by pre-hospital diagnosis and prompt aggressive treatment. There is however another time critical condition that is currently not being targeted, in which pre-hospital staff could significantly improve the patient’s chances of survival. This condition is severe sepsis. This article presents a case study of a patient with severe sepsis who is transported from a nursing home to the emergency department (ED), and explores how paramedics can diagnose severe sepsis by use of a screening tool, and discusses the practicalities of delivering evidence-based care en route to hospital (high concentration oxygen, intravenous fluid challenges, intravenous antibiotics, measuring blood lactate). The benefits of alerting the receiving hospital of a patient with severe sepsis are also discussed. Abstract published with permission.