CDC aims to reduce sepsis, a cause of 700+ daily deaths in the US.

The CDC’s New Program to Reduce Sepsis Deaths in U.S. ‍Hospitals

The ⁢Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has launched an initiative to combat sepsis, a life-threatening condition caused⁢ by the body’s extreme response to infection. With at least 1.7 million adults in the United States developing sepsis each year,‍ resulting in 270,000 deaths during hospitalization, the CDC’s Hospital Sepsis Program Core Elements aims to provide hospitals with the necessary resources and personnel to effectively manage sepsis cases.

According to⁤ the CDC, almost any infection, including ⁢COVID-19, RSV, and influenza, can lead to sepsis. Shockingly, 87 percent of adult ​sepsis patients ‌arrive at hospitals with infections that aren’t improving.

The⁤ CDC’s Seven Core​ Elements

• Implementing structures​ and processes to improve identification, management, and recovery from sepsis
• Measuring sepsis epidemiology and‍ progress toward goals
• Appointing leaders for program outcomes
• Providing sepsis education to healthcare professionals
• And more…

“Sepsis is taking too many lives. [1 in 3] people who die in a⁢ hospital has sepsis during that hospitalization,” says CDC Director Dr. Mandy Cohen. “Rapid diagnosis and⁣ immediate appropriate⁣ treatment, including antibiotics, are essential to saving lives, yet the challenges of awareness about and recognition of sepsis are enormous.”

The CDC’s⁣ initiative has garnered support from the American Hospital Association (AHA). Dr. Chris DeRienzo, the association’s chief physician executive, emphasizes the importance of a tailored approach to sepsis care, stating, “That’s why CDC’s Sepsis ​Core Elements offer a broad scaffolding for hospitals to build the program ‍they need to best support their own communities.”

Understanding Sepsis: A Dangerous Immune System Reaction

Sepsis ⁢occurs when an existing infection triggers an extreme immune ⁢system reaction. Normally, the immune system releases chemicals to fight infections, but when it goes into overdrive,​ the body experiences extensive inflammation.

Sepsis ⁤is primarily caused by bacteria, but viruses like COVID-19 and fungal infections can also lead to sepsis. The CDC warns that without timely treatment, sepsis can rapidly result in tissue damage, organ failure, and death.

It’s important to note⁣ that most cases of sepsis⁣ start before a ‌patient goes to ‌the ⁣hospital. Infections that lead to sepsis often originate in the lung, urinary tract, skin, or gastrointestinal tract. Nearly a⁤ quarter to a third of people with sepsis had a healthcare visit in the week before hospitalization.

Individuals at a higher risk of sepsis include t