Live saving sepsis boxes are trialled at Cwm Taf!

A lifesaving toolkit to tackle sepsis, the life-threatening blood poisoning condition, is being trialled at Cwm Taf. 

 

Sepsis is the body’s overwhelming response to infection and is a time critical medical emergency.  It is estimated to affect 100,000 people every year in the UK and cause the deaths of around 44,000 people.

 

Cwm Taf Critical Care Outreach Teams (CCOTs) have been selected by the Bevan Commission to be part of a trial of a ‘disposable sepsis box’. 

 

Andrew Hermon, senior nurse in critical care said: “Currently staff use sepsis response bags’ which were introduced by Cwm Taf in 2011. 

 

“Staff have considerable experience in using these bags and have been able to show improved outcomes associated with its use. However, these improvements have been highly dependent upon the presence of a member of the CCO team in order to initiate the use of the bag. This unfortunately has enormous potential to cause delay in treatment with subsequent poor outcomes. 

 

“The introduction of a ‘disposable sepsis box’ will improve the efficiency and effectiveness of identification of sepsis in clinical areas and has the potential to significantly reduce harm associated with this condition.

 

“The outreach team see approximately 400 patients per year in Cwm Taf who are diagnosed with sepsis and require medical intervention. These patients need urgent treatment at the bedside to prevent further deterioration and admission to critical care.”

 

Training and awareness of the sepsis boxes are to commence shortly with the trial starting in May and lasting for 12 months with the aim of reducing sepsis infection. 

 

“There is strong evidence to suggest that early recognition of the sepsis condition and simple, but prompt treatment can have a profound effect upon mortality and reduce the level of harm in sepsis survivors”, adds Andrew.

 

Cwm Taf in collaboration with healthcare company ‘Rocialle’ and the 1000 Lives improvement service, will work together to develop and test the ‘disposable sepsis box’ in both Prince Charles Hospital and Royal Glamorgan Hospital.

 

The trial will hope to show an association between use of the ‘disposable sepsis box’ and significant increase in compliance with delivery of the ‘sepsis 6’ care bundle within one hour of sepsis recognition in all in-hospital clinical areas on both sites and significant increase in the percentage of ‘sepsis 6’ bundle delivery initiated by ward nursing staff.