Decrease in Mortality after the Implementation of a Hospital Model to Improve Performance in Sepsis Care: Princess Sepsis Code.

Sepsis is a time-dependent disease whose prognosis is influenced by early diagnosis and therapeutic measures. Mortality from sepsis remains high, and for this reason, the guidelines of the Surviving Sepsis Campaign recommend establishing specific care programs aimed at patients with sepsis. We present the results of the application of a hospital model to improve performance in sepsis care, called Princess Sepsis Code, with the aim of reducing mortality. A retrospective study was conducted using clinical, epidemiological, and outcome variables in patients diagnosed with sepsis from 2015 to 2022. A total of 2676 patients were included, 32% of whom required admission to the intensive care unit, with the most frequent focus of the sepsis being abdominal. Mortality in 2015, at the beginning of the sepsis code program, was 24%, with a declining rate noted over the study period, with mortality reaching 17% in 2022. In the multivariate analysis, age > 70 years, respiratory rate > 22 rpm, deterioration in the level of consciousness, serum lactate > 2 mmol/L, creatinine > 1.6 mg/dL, and the focus of the sepsis were identified as variables independently related to mortality. The implementation of the Princess Sepsis Code care model reduces the mortality of patients exhibiting sepsis and septic shock.

Código Sepsis: esquivando la mortalidad en un hospital terciario / Sepsis Code: dodging mortality in a tertiary hospital

Introducción. En el hospital de La Princesa comienza el “Código Sepsis” (CSP) en el año 2015, como un grupo multidisciplinar que dota al personal sanitario de herramientas clínicas, analíticas y organizativas, con el objetivo de la detección y el tratamiento precoz del paciente con sepsis. El objetivo de este estudio es evaluar el impacto de la implantación de CSP en la mortalidad y determinar las variables asociadas con un aumento de la misma.Material y métodos. Se realizó un estudio analítico retrospectivo de los pacientes con activación de la alerta CSP de 2015 a 2018. Se recogieron variables clínico-epidemiológicas, parámetros analíticos y factores de gravedad como el ingreso en Unidades de Cuidados Críticos (UCC) y la necesidad de aminas. La significación estadística se estableció en una p < 0,05. Resultados. Se incluyeron 1.121 pacientes. La estancia media fue de 16 días y un 32% requirieron ingreso en UCC. La mortalidad mostró una tendencia lineal descendente estadísticamente significativa del 24% en 2015 hasta el 15% en 2018. Las variables predictivas de mortalidad con asociación estadísticamente significativa fueron el lactato > 2 mmol/L, la creatinina > 1,6 mg/dL y la necesidad de aminas. Conclusiones. La implementación de Código Sepsis disminuye la mortalidad de los pacientes con sepsis y shock séptico. La presencia de una cifra de lactato > 2 mmol/L, los niveles de creatinina > 1,6 mg/dL y/o la necesidad de administrar aminas en las primeras 24 horas, se asocian con un aumento de la mortalidad en el paciente con sepsis. (AU)

Background. In the hospital of La Princesa, the “Sepsis Code” (CSP) began in 2015, as a multidisciplinary group that provides health personnel with clinical, analytical and organizational tools, with the aim of the detection and early treatment of patients with sepsis. The objective of this study is to evaluate the impact of CSP implantation on mortality and to determine the variables associated with an increase in it. Material and methods. A retrospective analytical study of patients with CSP alert activation from 2015 to 2018 was conducted. Clinical-epidemiological variables, analytical parameters, and severity factors such as admission to critical care units (UCC) and the need for amines were collected. Statistical significance was established at p < 0.05. Results. We included 1,121 patients. The length of stay was 16 days and 32% required admission to UCC. Mortality showed a statistically significant linear downward trend from 24% in 2015 to 15% in 2018. The predictive mortality variables with statistically significant association were lactate > 2 mmol/L, creatinine > 1.6 mg/dL and the need for amines. Conclusions. The implementation of Sepsis Code decreases the mortality of patients with sepsis and septic shock. The presence of a lactate > 2 mmol/L, creatinine > 1.6 mg/dL and/or the need to administer amines in the first 24 hours, are associated with an increase in mortality in the patient with sepsis. (AU)

Multicentre study of ceftazidime/avibactam for Gram-negative bacteria infections in critically ill patients.

This study aimed to assess the efficacy of ceftazidime/avibactam (C/A) in the treatment of infections due to Gram-negative bacteria (GNB) in critically ill patients. A multicentre, retrospective, observational study was conducted in critically ill patients receiving C/A for GNB infections. We evaluated demographic data, localisation and severity of infection, clinical and microbiological outcomes, and mortality. A total of 68 patients received C/A for serious GNB infections. The main infections were respiratory (33.8%), intra-abdominal (22.1%) and urinary tract infections (10.3%); bacteraemia was found in 22 cases (32.4%). Most infections were complicated by septic shock (58.8%) or sepsis (36.8%) and most of them required life-supporting therapies. Enterobacterales (79.4%) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (19.1%) were the most frequently isolated bacteria; 84.2% of isolates were carbapenem-resistant. Thirty-four patients (50.0%) received C/A in combination with other antimicrobials. Fifty patients (73.5%) presented a favourable clinical response. Microbiological eradication was documented in 25 cases (36.8%). No significant differences were found in clinical response between patients treated with monotherapy or combined therapy (79.4% vs. 67.6%; P = 0.27). Overall intensive care unit (ICU) mortality was 41.2%. Univariate analysis showed that 30-day all-cause mortality was significantly (P < 0.05) associated with bacteraemia, previous corticosteroid use and the need of life-supporting therapies. C/A appears to be an effective therapy for severe infections due to GNB, including carbapenem-resistant isolates, in critically ill patients. C/A combination therapy was not associated with a higher clinical response. Mortality correlated significantly with the presence of bacteraemia, previous corticosteroid use and the need for life-supporting therapies.

Multicenter study of ceftolozane/tazobactam for treatment of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections in critically ill patients.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to assess the efficacy of ceftolozane-tazobactam (C/T) for treating infections due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) in critically ill patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A multicenter, retrospective and observational study was conducted in critically ill patients receiving different C/T dosages and antibiotic combinations for P. aeruginosa infections. Demographic data, localisation and severity of infection, clinical and microbiological outcome, and mortality were evaluated. RESULTS: Ninety-five patients received C/T for P. aeruginosa serious infections. The main infections were nosocomial pneumonia (56.2%), intra-abdominal infection (10.5%), tracheobronchitis (8.4%), and urinary tract infection (6.3%). Most infections were complicated with sepsis (49.5%) or septic shock (45.3%), and bacteraemia (10.5%). Forty-six episodes were treated with high-dose C/T (3 g every 8 hours) and 38 episodes were treated with standard dosage (1.5 g every 8 hours). Almost half (44.2%) of the patients were treated with C/T monotherapy, and the remaining group received combination therapy with other antibiotics. Sixty-eight (71.6%) patients presented a favourable clinical response. Microbiological eradication was documented in 42.1% (40/95) of the episodes. The global ICU mortality was 36.5%. Univariate analysis showed that 30-day mortality was significantly associated (P < 0.05) with Charlson Index at ICU admission and the need of life-supporting therapies. CONCLUSIONS: C/T appeared to be an effective therapy for severe infections due to P. aeruginosa in critically ill patients. Mortality was mainly related to the severity of the infection. No benefit was observed with high-dose C/T or combination therapy with other antibiotics.

Initial clinical outcomes and prognostic variables in the implementation of a Code Sepsis in a high complexity University Hospital / Resultados clínicos iniciales y variables pronósticas en la implementación de un Código Sepsis en un Hospital Universitario de alta complejidad

OBJECTIVES: To assess the impact of the first months of application of a Code Sepsis in a high complexity hospital, analyzing patient's epidemiological and clinical characteristics and prognostic factors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A long-term observational study was carried out throughout a consecutive period of seven months (February 2015 - September 2015). The relationship with mortality of risk factors, and analytic values was analyzed using uni- and multivariate analyses. RESULTS: A total of 237 patients were included. The in-hospital mortality was 24% at 30 days and 27% at 60 days. The mortality of patients admitted to Critical Care Units was 30%. Significant differences were found between the patients who died and those who survived in mean levels of creatinine (2.30 vs 1.46 mg/dL, p <0.05), lactic acid (6.10 vs 2.62 mmol/L, p <0.05) and procalcitonin (23.27 vs 12.73 mg/dL, p < 0.05). A statistically significant linear trend was found between SOFA scale rating and mortality (p < 0.05). In the multivariate analysis additional independent risk factors associated with death were identified: age > 65 years (OR 5.33, p <0.05), lactic acid > 3 mmol/L (OR 5,85, p <0,05), creatinine > 1,2 mgr /dL (OR 4,54, p <0,05) and shock (OR 6,57, P <0,05). CONCLUSIONS: The epidemiological, clinical and mortality characteristics of the patients in our series are similar to the best published in the literature. The study has identified several markers that could be useful at a local level to estimate risk of death in septic patients. Studies like this one are necessary to make improvements in the Code Sepsis programs

OBJETIVO: Evaluar el impacto de un programa educativo y organizativo llamado Código Sepsis, en los primeros siete meses de su aplicación en un hospital de alta complejidad. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Se realizó un estudio observacional durante un período consecutivo de siete meses (Febrero 2015-Septiembre 2015). Se analizó la relación con la mortalidad de los factores de riesgo y los valores analíticos usando análisis uni y multivariante. RESULTADOS: Se incluyeron un total de 237 pacientes. La mortalidad intrahospitalaria a los 30 días fue del 24 % y del 27% a los 60 días. La mortalidad de los pacientes ingresados en Unidades de Cuidados Críticos fue del 30%. Se encontraron diferencias significativas entre los pacientes que murieron y los que sobrevivieron en sus valores medios de creatinina (2,30 vs 1,46 mg/dL, p <0,05), ácido láctico (6,10 vs 2,62 mmol/L, p <0,05) y procalcitonina (23,27 vs 12,73 mg/dL, p <0,05). Se encontró una tendencia lineal estadísticamente significativa entre los valores de la escala SOFA y la mortalidad (p <0,05). En el análisis multivariante se identificaron otros factores de riesgo independientes asociados con la muerte: edad > 65 años (OR 5,33, p <0,05), ácido láctico > 3 mmol/L (OR 5,85, p <0,05), creatinina > 1,2 mgr/dL (OR 4,54, p <0,05) y el shock (OR 6,57, P <0,05). CONCLUSIONES: La mortalidad en este estudio se encuentra dentro de los límites de los ensayos clínicos más recientes de sepsis. El estudio ha identificado varios marcadores que podrían ser útiles a nivel local para estimar el riesgo en pacientes sépticos. Estudios como éste son necesarios para hacer mejoras en los programas de Código Sepsis