In critically ill patients in Australia and New Zealand with severe sepsis or septic shock, there was a decrease in the risk of death from 2000 to 2012, findings that were accompanied by changes in the patterns of discharge of intensive care unit (ICU) patients to home, rehabilitation, and other hospitals, according to a study appearing in JAMA. The study is being released early to coincide with its presentation at the International Symposium on Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine.
Severe sepsis and septic shock are the biggest cause of death in critically ill patients. Over the last 20 years, multiple randomized controlled trials have attempted to identify new treatments to improve the survival of these patients, according to background information on the article. It is unknown whether progress has been made in decreasing mortality.
Kirsi-Maija Kaukonen, MD, PhD, EDIC, of Monash University, Melbourne, Australia, and colleagues examined trends in mortality among 101,064 patients with severe sepsis or septic shock from 171 ICUs in Australia and New Zealand from 2000 to 2012.
The researchers found that absolute mortality from severe sepsis decreased from 35.0 percent to 18.4 percent during this time period, an annual rate of absolute decrease of 1.3 percent, and a relative risk reduction of 47.5 percent. The annual decline in mortality did not differ between patients with severe sepsis/septic shock and those with all other diagnoses.
The authors write that their study provides evidence that sepsis-related mortality has steadily decreased over time even after adjustments for illness severity, center effect, regional effects, hospital size and other key variables. "It is unclear whether any improvements in diagnostic procedures, earlier and broader-spectrum antibiotic treatment, or more aggressive supportive therapy according to severity of the disease contributed to this change. The observation that an equivalent improvement occurred in nonseptic patients supports the view that overall changes in ICU practice rather than in the management of sepsis explain most of our findings."
In an accompanying editorial, Declining Case Fatality Rates for Severe Sepsis, Theodore J. Iwashyna, MD, PhD, of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and Derek C. Angus, MD, MPH, of the University of Pittsburgh, comment on the findings of this study: "Short-term [severe sepsis] mortality has declined to a level at which it no longer reflects the entire story of outcomes for patients with severe sepsis. Although the reduction in sepsis-related mortality is welcome, it makes the need for data on morbidity and longer-term outcomes all the more pressing. Even while awaiting confirmation of this mortality finding in other settings, the general challenge for research is clear. Clinical trials need to adopt longer-term morbidity measures, if only to have the power to be able to detect feasible effect sizes in new trials. Registries and benchmarking programs need to find low-cost ways to assess outcomes other than short-term mortality, if only to remain relevant. Critical care is improving for patients with severe sepsis and throughout the ICU, and clinicians and researchers must raise the standards and broaden measurement to continue such progress."
References: doi:10.1001/jama.2014.2637; doi:10.1001/jama.2014.2639
Pseudomonas aeruginosa: Infection Risks, Challenges, and Breakthroughs for Health Care Professionals
September 19th 2024Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a highly virulent pathogen, poses significant risks to immunocompromised patients, presenting challenges in treatment due to its antibiotic resistance and environmental persistence.
Advancing Infection Prevention With Diagnostic Innovation: Insights From Alesia McKeown, PhD
September 17th 2024Alesia McKeown, PhD, discusses the pivotal role of cutting-edge diagnostic technologies in enhancing infection prevention, especially in high-risk health care environments, during an interview with Infection Control Today.
The Role of Accurate Testing in Preventing Respiratory Illnesses: Insights from Dr. Aparna Ahuja
September 17th 2024On Get Ready for Flu Day, Dr. Aparna Ahuja discusses the importance of accurate respiratory illness testing, the risks of self-diagnosis, and the role of infection prevention personnel in public health education.
How Cleaning Medical Equipment Directly Affects Patient Safety and Equipment Longevity
September 16th 2024Hospital-associated infections affect over 1 million US patients annually. Proper medical equipment cleaning and sterilization significantly reduce infection risks, improving patient outcomes and safety.
Top 3 Secrets to Effective Infection Prevention and Control Through Strategic MDRO Surveillance
September 13th 2024Sean Brown’s 2024 Disease Prevention Summit presentation emphasized leveraging technology, prioritizing high-risk patients, and environmental surveillance to enhance infection prevention and control strategies.