Pre-hospital lactate monitoring for adults with sepsis

Abstract

Abstract published with permission. Background: Sepsis is a life-threatening condition that claims 37 000 lives in the UK. The sepsis six care bundle was developed by the surviving sepsis campaign in 2002 to address this high mortality rate. Part of this care bundle involves measuring blood lactate which is prognostic of mortality. Lactate can be measured by paramedics in the pre-hospital setting using hand held monitors similar to blood glucose machines, with accuracy that is comparable to laboratory measured lactate. Method: A focused electronic literature search was carried out on a number of different databases as well as a hand search of specific relevant journals. Data was also obtained from reference harvesting, although the limitations of this was appreciated. Experts in the field were also contacted with relevant data obtained. An ongoing pre-hospital trial monitoring lactate was also identified and these researchers were contacted with relevant data obtained. Conclusions: Pre-hospital lactate monitoring would promote better recognition of sepsis in adults and improve the quality of care. It could be used to initiate a specific treatment regime such as intravenous antibiotics. This would reduce the numbers of patients admitted to intensive care, helping to reduce mortality and costs for the NHS.