Reduction of BSI associated mortality after a sepsis project implementation in the ER of a tertiary referral hospital

Abstract The emergency room (ER) is the first gateway for patients with sepsis to inpatient units, and identifying best practices and benchmarks to be applied in this setting might crucially result in better patient’s outcomes. In this study, we want to evaluate the results in terms of decreased the in-hospital mortality of patients with sepsis of a Sepsis Project developed in the ER. All patients admitted to the ER of our Hospital from the 1st January, 2016 to the 31stJuly 2019 with suspect of sepsis (MEWS score ≥ of 3) and positive blood culture upon ER admission were included in this retrospective observational study. The study comprises of two periods: Period A: From the 1st Jan 2016 to the 31st Dec 2017, before the implementation of the Sepsis project. Period B: From the 1st Jan 2018 to the 31stJul 2019, after the implementation of the Sepsis project. To analyze the difference in mortality between the two periods, a univariate and multivariate logistic regression was used. The risk of in-hospital mortality was expressed as an odds ratio (OR) and a 95% confidence interval (95% CI). Overall, 722 patients admitted in ER had positive BC on admissions, 408 in period A and 314 in period B. In-hospital mortality was 18.9% in period A and 12.7% in period B (p = 0.03). At multivariable analysis, mortality was still reduced in period B compared to period A (OR 0.64, 95% CI 0.41–0.98; p = 0.045). Having an infection due to GP bacteria or polymicrobial was associated with an increased risk of death, as it was having a neoplasm or diabetes. A marked reduction in in-hospital mortality of patients with documented BSI associated with signs or symptoms of sepsis after the implementation of a sepsis project based on the application of sepsis bundles in the ER.