Abstract
Background: The quick-Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (qSOFA) criteria are recommended for identifying non-intensive care unit (ICU) patients at risk for sepsis but are underutilized.
Local Problem: We hypothesized that education on recognizing sepsis using qSOFA criteria and empowering nurses to trigger rapid response team (RRT) calls based on positive qSOFA scores would reduce time to recognition and time to intervention and improve treatment compliance in non-ICU patients.
Methods: The methods involved a descriptive retrospective review of 60 sepsis patients (30 pre- and 30 posteducation) to determine sepsis recognition time (qSOFA-to-RRT); time-to-sepsis interventions (reported as median [interquartile range] hours); and percent compliance with interventions.
Interventions: We provided qSOFA and sepsis education to more than 1000 nurses, physicians, and advanced practice providers in a large tertiary hospital.
Results: Posteducation, time to recognition (qSOFA-to-RRT) improved from 11.8 hours (3.4, 34.3) pre to 1.7 (0, 11.7) post (P = .005). Time from qSOFA to antibiotics improved from 1.4 hours (2.4, 6.2) pre to -4.7 (-25.4, 1.8) hours post (P < .01). Using qSOFA, compliance improved for antibiotics from 60% pre to 87% post (P = .02).