Better Targeting of Antibiotics in Suspected Sepsis Cases Needed
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has stated that the use of antibiotics for possible sepsis should be more targeted. How will this help to ensure the right people receive treatment at the right time?
NICE has recommended that clinicians use the NHS England-endorsed National Early Warning Score (NEWS2) that was developed by the Royal College of Physicians to identify acutely ill patients.
A more targeted focus will help to reduce medicine overuse
It has been said that NEWS2 should be used to help assess people with suspected sepsis who are aged 16 and over; not and have not recently been pregnant; and in an acute hospital setting, acute mental health setting, or ambulance.
This recommendation is included in an update to NICE’s suspected sepsis guideline, which says those deemed as the most severely ill by NEWS2 should be prioritised and receive broad-spectrum antibiotics within an hour.
It is expected to lead to more people being graded at a lower risk, which will reduce the risk of medicines being overused and boost antibiotic resistance.
The UK Sepsis Trust’s Founder and Joint Chief Executive, Dr Ron Daniels, explained: “We particularly support that the update continues to recommend the identification of high-risk factors, whilst reinforcing the importance of clinical judgment to prevent injudicious use of antibiotics.”
Continuing, he said that reinforcing this importance will help to deliver better patient care: “The recommendation for GPs and ambulance services to consider how they give antibiotics to people that are at high risk of sepsis is increasingly relevant as transit times increase, and could be potentially transformational in terms of patient outcomes.”
These revisions help end a period of instability, with healthcare professionals previously facing varying guidance from the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges.
There are at least 245,000 sepsis cases annually
Analysis from 2017 by the UK Sepsis Trust has previously indicated that there were 200,000 hospital admissions in England where sepsis was diagnosed.
The Trust says if this figure is extrapolated out into the entire UK population, there are at least 245,000 sepsis cases a year.
NICE’s Chief Medical Officer, Professor Jonathan Benger, added: “This useful and useable guidance will help ensure antibiotics are targeted at those at the greatest risk of severe sepsis, so they get rapid and effective treatment. It also supports clinicians to make informed, balanced decisions when prescribing antibiotics.
“We know that sepsis can be difficult to diagnose so it is vital there is clear guidance on the updated NEWS2 so it can be used to identify illness, ensure people receive the right treatment in the right clinical setting and saves lives.”
By making sure that antibiotics are being used in a more targeted way, professionals will be able to use them more effectively to ensure that the people who need the treatment the most get it at the right time.
