Sepsis, also referred to as septicaemia, is a severe immune system reaction to infection, resulting in harm to the body’s own tissues and organs. If not promptly and accurately treated, sepsis can lead to life-threatening consequences, especially amongst young children.
Understanding the urgent need for swift and precise intervention for sepsis care, Bethany Vincent, Sister on the COU at DBTH, took a proactive approach to aiding critical sepsis care for the Trust’s young patients by introducing Sepsis Response Boxes across the Children’s Department.
Specially designed to streamline the treatment process for sepsis, the boxes include everything a healthcare professional should need to complete the ‘Sepsis 6’ within the crucial ‘golden hour’ – when treatment intervention is most critical.
This protocol includes:
- Delivery of High Flow Oxygen
- Establishing IV/IO Access and Collecting Blood Samples
- Administration of IV/IO Antibiotics
- Administration of IV/IO Fluids
- Consultation with Embrace (regional transport service for critically ill children)
- Consideration of Inotropic Support
To ensure effective execution of these critical steps, the Sepsis Response Box includes oxygen masks, equipment for cannula access and blood sample collection, age-appropriate antibiotics, intravenous fluid bags for rapid infusion, and supplementary items such as urine collection pots and lumbar puncture packs for further investigations when needed.
Each Sepsis Response Box has further been tailored to meet the specific needs of different age groups within the Unit, divided into under three months of age and three months and above. This ensures the availability of the correct equipment and antibiotics needed for the treatment pathway of the patient, in alignment with sepsis treatment protocol.
Distributed across the Unit, the boxes are easily accessible for all clinical colleagues should they be required. This innovative solution to the challenges faced in implementing successful sepsis care helps to eliminate time wasted by clinical colleagues in search for the treatment resources needed, ensuring that timely, effective and safe care can commence upon diagnosis.
Marie Hardacre, Associate Chief Nurse for Patient Safety and Quality, said: “The implementation of these Sepsis Response Boxes will be instrumental in enhancing the care we provide to young patients in our Children’s Department, ensuring that colleagues are equipped with the necessary tools to deliver prompt and effective treatment.
“Thank you to Bethany, and the wider team, for introducing this fantastic initiative to the Unit, this action will support colleagues with saving time during the critical golden hour and help us to bolster our ability to combat sepsis effectively.”
Wednesday 13 September is World Sepsis Day, with colleagues from across Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals involved in a number of activities and awareness generating events, to ensure clinicians at the Trust are sepsis aware.
