학술논문

The impact of clinical protocols in the management of severe sepsis: a prospective cohort study
Document Type
Report
Source
Anaesthesia and Intensive Care. July 1, 2012, Vol. 40 Issue 4, p663, 12 p.
Subject
Singapore
South Korea
Language
English
ISSN
0310-057X
Abstract
This study aimed to assess the availability of clinical protocols and their effect on compliance to the Surviving Sepsis Campaign bundles and on mortality in severe sepsis in ten Singaporean adult teaching intensive care units (ICU). The presence of 11 protocols in the ICUs, steps taken based on the Johns Hopkins University Quality and Safety Research Group's model to translate protocols into practice, and organisational characteristics were assessed. Clinical and research personnel recorded characteristics of patients with severe sepsis who were admitted in July 2009, the achievement of sepsis bundle targets and outcomes. Hospital mortality was 39% for 128 patients. Fewer than half of the ICUs had protocols for early goal-directed therapy, blood cultures, antibiotics, steroids, lung-protective ventilation and weaning. Compliance rates with the resuscitation and management bundles were 18 and 3% respectively. Units with protocols were generally not more likely to achieve associated bundle targets. Steps from the Johns Hopkins model to measure performance, engage teams and sustain and extend interventions were taken in fewer than half of the available protocols. However, on logistic regression analysis, the number of protocols available per ICU was independently and inversely associated with mortality. In conclusion, clinical protocols are infrequently available in Singapore's ICUs and when present do not generally improve compliance to the sepsis bundles. These protocols may, however, be a surrogate marker of the quality of care as they are independently associated with decreased mortality. The use of an integrated and multifaceted approach to translate protocols into practice should be considered. Key Words: clinical protocols, severe sepsis, guideline adherence, physician's practice patterns
To decrease mortality from severe sepsis the Surviving Sepsis Campaign put forth multiple recommendations, some of which have been incorporated into a six-hour resuscitation bundle and a 24-hour management bundle [...]