CDC aims to reduce sepsis, a cause of 700+ daily American deaths.
The U.S. CDC Launches Program to Reduce Sepsis Deaths in Hospitals
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has launched an important new program aimed at reducing deaths from sepsis in hospitals.
Sepsis is a life-threatening condition caused by the body’s extreme response to infection. It requires urgent medical care to prevent organ or tissue damage, or even death. According to the CDC, at least 1.7 million adults in the United States develop sepsis each year, with 270,000 dying during hospitalization.
The CDC’s recent initiative, called the “Hospital Sepsis Program Core Elements,” is designed to ensure that American hospitals have the necessary resources and personnel to effectively deal with sepsis cases.
“This critical resource is intended to help hospitals implement, monitor, and optimize sepsis programs and improve survival rates,” stated the CDC in an Aug. 24 media release.
The CDC’s survey of 5,221 hospitals found that 73 percent have sepsis teams, but only 55 percent provide dedicated time for team leaders to manage sepsis programs.
It’s important to note that almost any infection, including COVID-19, RSV, and influenza, can lead to sepsis. In fact, 87 percent of sepsis adult patients arrive at hospitals with an infection that is not improving.
The CDC’s sepsis program focuses on seven key elements, including improving identification, management, and recovery from sepsis; measuring sepsis epidemiology and progress; appointing program leaders; and providing sepsis education to healthcare professionals.
“Sepsis is taking too many lives. One in three people who dies in a hospital has sepsis during that hospitalization,” said CDC Director 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 received support from the American Hospital Association (AHA). AHA chief physician executive Chris DeRienzo emphasized that sepsis is a complex disease that requires a tailored approach in hospitals.
The Illness
The immune system protects the body from infections and illnesses. However, when the system overreacts, it can be dangerous. Sepsis occurs when an existing infection triggers an extreme immune system response.
A U.S. military member receives a smallpox vaccine in the Gulf of Aden off the coast of Djibouti in a 2003 file image. (Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
Under normal conditions, the immune system releases chemicals to fight infections. However, when the system goes into overdrive, the body can experience extensive inflammation.
While bacteria are the main cause of sepsis, viruses like COVID-19 and fungal infections can also lead to sepsis.
“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. Without timely treatment, sepsis can rapidly cause tissue damage, organ failure, and death,” warns the CDC.
“Nearly a quarter to a third of people with sepsis had a healthcare visit in the week before they were hospitalized.”
Individuals with weakened immune systems are at a higher risk of sepsis.
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