To help optimize hospital sepsis programs and improve outcomes for at least 1.7 million people in America affected by sepsis each year, the CDC – in conjunction with members of the Michigan Hospital Medicine Safety (HMS) Consortium – released the first-ever Hospital Sepsis Program Core Elements. This resource is designed to help U.S. hospitals implement, monitor, and optimize institutional sepsis programs and sepsis outcomes.
The development of a multi-disciplinary hospital sepsis program is critical to monitoring and improving the management and outcomes of patients with sepsis. These core elements can be adapted to fit specific hospital needs and should help healthcare staff improve outcomes from sepsis by aiding in the recognition of sepsis, facilitating the implementation of evidence-based management of sepsis, supporting the recovery of patients after sepsis, and monitoring the impact of hospital-based interventions to improve care and outcomes of sepsis.
CDC Hospital Sepsis Programs Core Elements
Getting Started – A Getting Started guide was developed for hospitals that may be implementing the first-ever hospital sepsis program in their institution.
Hospital Sepsis Program Assessment Tool – This tool provides examples of ways hospitals can implement the Core Elements.
Publications/Media:
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Hospital Sepsis Program Core Elements
- JAMA Viewpoint - Sepsis, a life-threatening syndrome of acute organ dysfunction secondary to infection, is a common cause of hospitalization and death. In the US, sepsis contributes to approximately 1.7 million adult hospitalizations and more than a third of all hospital deaths. In addition to being deadly, sepsis also contributes to new and worsened morbidity. Patients experience heightened risk for further health deterioration, hospital readmission, and death in the months, and even years, after the acute resolution of sepsis. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released the Hospital Sepsis Program Core Elements to assist hospitals with developing multiprofessional programs to monitor and optimize the management and outcomes of sepsis.
- Sepsis Program Activities in Acute Care Hospitals — National Healthcare Safety Network, United States, 2022
- Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report – A 2022 National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) survey of more than 5,000 U.S. hospitals determined the number and characteristics of U.S. sepsis programs in acute care hospitals. The data highlight opportunities to improve the care and outcomes of patients with sepsis in the U.S. by ensuring that all hospitals have sepsis programs with protected time for program leaders, engagement of medical specialists, and integration with antimicrobial stewardship programs.
- Live CDC Media Briefing — Strengthening survival and recovery rates for all sepsis patients - YouTube