IngentaConnect Community-acquired septic shock: early management and outcome in ...

Abstract:

Aim:

To determine how the early treatment guidelines were adopted, and what was the impact of early treatment on mortality in septic shock in Finland. Methods:

This study was a sub-analysis of a prospective observational investigation of severe sepsis and septic shock in Finland (Finnsepsis). All patients with severe sepsis over 4 months in 24 intensive care units were included in the Finnsepsis study. Patients with community-acquired septic shock, admitted directly from the emergency department to the intensive care unit, were included in the sub-study. The following treatment targets were evaluated: measurement of lactate during the first 6 h; analysis of blood culture before antibiotics; commencement of antibiotics within 3 h; attainment of a mean arterial pressure of ≥65 mmHg, central venous pressure of ≥8 mmHg and central venous oxygen saturation of ≥70% or mixed venous oxygen saturation of ≥65% during the first 6 h. Results:

Of the 92 patients who fulfilled the inclusion criteria, six reached all treatment targets and 33 reached four or more targets (group ≥4). The hospital mortality of group ≥4 was 24% (8/33), compared with 42% (25/59) for those who reached three or fewer targets (group ≤3) (P= 0.08). The 1-year mortality rates of group ≥4 and group ≤3 were 36% and 59% (P= 0.04), respectively. In logistic regression analysis, a delayed initiation of antimicrobials was associated with an unfavourable outcome (P= 0.04). Conclusions:

Compliance with international guidelines for the early treatment of septic shock was poor in Finnish hospitals. A failure to diagnose early and to start appropriate treatment was reflected in the high mortality. The delayed start of antibiotics was the most important individual variable leading to a high mortality in this nationwide study.

Keywords: Sepsis; septic shock; treatment protocols

Document Type: Research article

DOI: 10.1111/j.1399-6576.2007.01439.x

Affiliations: 1: Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere 2: Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland 3: Division of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Department of Surgery

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Community-acquired septic shock: early management and outcome in a nationwide study in Finland