Isabel Shimanski
The Impact of a Prehospital Sepsis Protocol Including ETCO2 on Patient Outcomes
Mentor: Graham Brant-Zawadski
Department: Emergency Medicine
Background:
Emergency Medical Services (EMS) are vital in improving sepsis outcomes. Approximately 34% of sepsis patients and 60% of severe sepsis patients arrive via EMS. Timely intervention is critical, as each hour of delayed antibiotic administration increases mortality by 4%. End-tidal CO2 (ETCO2), which correlates with serum lactate levels, may be a valuable marker for sepsis. Prehospital sepsis screening tools that include ETCO2 could enable early identification, but more evidence is needed to confirm their diagnostic accuracy, particularly regarding ETCO2 cutoffs. Data is also limited on whether these tools reduce time to intervention in emergency departments.
Methods:
This retrospective cohort study involves adult sepsis patients transported by EMS in two counties. The intervention group includes patients assessed with a sepsis screening tool, while the control group includes those treated before its implementation. Outcomes measured include time to sepsis bundle initiation, time to antibiotics, ICU and hospital length of stay, and discharge outcomes. Data will be collected from EMS reports and hospital records.
Expected Results:
We expect that the implementation of the sepsis screening protocol will reduce the time to sepsis bundle initiation, shorten ICU and hospital stays, and lower mortality rates.
Conclusion:
The study aims to provide insights into the efficacy of prehospital sepsis screening tools and their impact on patient outcomes. The results will help determine the value of these tools in improving sepsis management and patient survival rates.
