Suspected Sepsis

Question 1

Suspected sepsis in GP, how is SBAR for this handover structured?

Answer 1

1. Confirm who you’re speaking to at the hospital
2. Explain patient’s situation - suspected sepsis secondary to …? presenting with …?
3. Background of patient - e.g. poorly controlled T2DM and hypertension
4. Assessment - NEWS2, Temp, BP, Pulsem RR, O2 sats
5. Request transfer to AMU
6. If hospital doctor agrees, THEN give patient name and DOB
7. Check patient can get where required safely

Question 2

What is sepsis?

Answer 2

Life-threatening organ dysfunction due to a dysregulated host response to infection

Question 3

What other screening tool is triggered during suspected sepsis?

Answer 3

Sepsis screening tool acute assessment

Question 4

What does the ‘Sepsis screening tool acute assessment’ involve?

Answer 4

1. Risk factors for sepsis
2. Likely source - infection where?
3. Any red flags present - begin SEPSIS SIX
4. Any amber flags present - send bloods and review results, ensure senior clinical review within 1hr

Question 5

How can sepsis lead to death?

Answer 5

Body increases blood flow to infected organs, but in sepsis, vasodilation throughout the entire body can lower BP and reduce perfusion to vital organs - may lead to multi-organ failure and eventually death if untreated

Question 6

How does the body respond to reduced perfusion of organs?

Answer 6

Increased HR to improve oxygenation

Increased RR in response to metabolic acidosis

Question 7

So what are the common signs in a septic patient?

Answer 7

High temp - infection
Low BP
Raised HR
Raised RR

Question 8

What are the sepsis 6?

Answer 8

Take 3:
Blood cultures
Measure lactate
Measure urine output

Give 3:
Give high flow oxygen
Give fluids
Give antibiotics