ABSTRACT
Purpose. To assess the effect of improved compliance with 6-hour sepsis resuscitation bundle on mortality in patients with severe sepsis and septic shock. Materials and Methods. A quasi-experimental prospective study was conducted at a 10-bedded combined medical and surgical intensive care unit. The historical group included all consecutive patients with severe sepsis and septic shock admitted from January 2008 to March 2009. Intervention included evidence-based written sepsis pathway, antibiotic recommendations, and an educational program.The post-intervention group included all consecutive patients admitted from July 2009 to June 2011. The primary outcome measures were the overall compliance to seven 6-hour sepsis resuscitation bundle elements and 30-day hospital mortality. There were 99 patients in the historical group and 199 in the post-intervention group. Results. The baseline patients' characteristics were similar. Overall compliance to all seven sepsis resuscitation bundle elements in historical group was 5.1% [95% confidence interval (CI), 2.1-11.3] which improved after intervention to 23.6% (95% CI, 17.9-30.1); P < 0.001. The overall compliance to 6-hour sepsis resuscitation bundle elements was associated with improved survival [odds ratio (OR), 5.8 (95% CI, 2.2-15.1; P < 0.001)]. 30-day hospital mortality reduced from 31.3% in the historical group to 21.1% in the intervention group; P = 0.05. Conclusion. Improvement in compliance to 6-hour sepsis resuscitation bundle was associated with a reduction in 30-day hospital mortality.
