CDC’s Hospital Sepsis Program Core Elements include seven core elements.
Image credits: CDC

In 2023, the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) Annual Survey revealed significant improvements in sepsis program implementation across US hospitals. 78% percent of hospitals now have sepsis committees, up from 73% in 2022. Additionally, 59% have dedicated time for sepsis program leaders, an increase from 55% the previous year. The inclusion of Antibiotic Stewardship Programs in sepsis committees has also risen to 66%, representing an increase of 629 hospitals.¹

In an interview with Contagion, Raymund Dantes, MD, MPH, Medical Advisor – NHSN, CDC provided insight into these developments. Dantes explained, “From January to March 2024, we asked over 5,000 US hospitals about their sepsis program practices for all of 2023, so this data represents practices both before and after the launch of our Sepsis Core Elements in late August of 2023.”

Sepsis is a severe reaction to an infection that can lead to widespread inflammation, tissue damage, organ failure, and even death. The CDC estimates that sepsis affects at least 1.7 million Americans annually, with at least 350,000 adults who develop sepsis in the hospital either dying or transitioning to hospice care.¹

Dantes also highlighted some challenges hospitals face with the Sepsis Core Elements. “The most recent survey included new questions that reflect the complete scope of the Core Elements. In our summary report, we concluded that many programs could benefit from executive sponsorship, improved assessment of the usability of local hospital sepsis tools, processes to support recovery from sepsis, education to certified nursing assistants and patient care technicians, processes to support prompt antimicrobial administration, and access to key sepsis data.”

The Sepsis Core Elements, inspired by the CDC’s Core Elements of Antibiotic Stewardship, are designed to help hospitals structure their sepsis programs effectively. These elements assist hospitals in organizing staff, identifying resources, and improving the rapid identification and treatment of sepsis to enhance patient outcomes.

Regarding the impact of this data on future sepsis management initiatives, Dantes stated, “Future NHSN annual surveys will continue to monitor uptake of these Sepsis Core Elements. These surveys will highlight the strengths and weaknesses of hospital sepsis programs, and future initiatives may be needed to address areas of need.”

Specific details from the CDC’s survey published in MMWR out of 5,221 hospitals surveyed, 73% reported having a sepsis committee. Although, the presence of these committees varied significantly by hospital size, with 53% of hospitals with 0–25 beds and 95% of those with over 500 beds having committees. Additionally, only 55% of hospitals provided dedicated time for sepsis program leaders, and the same percentage of committees were involved in antibiotic stewardship programs.

These findings highlight the need for improved sepsis care, especially in smaller hospitals. Key areas for enhancement include allocating dedicated time for sepsis program leaders, engaging medical specialists, and integrating antimicrobial stewardship.

Dantes concluded by emphasizing the CDC’s ongoing efforts, “CDC works to prevent and reduce infections that lead to sepsis, optimize healthcare quality, and improve patient safety by raising awareness and knowledge both among the public and healthcare professionals. CDC’s Get Ahead of Sepsis educational effort works year-round with additional effort in September for Sepsis Awareness Month, in order to both promote these messages.”

The CDC’s Hospital Sepsis Program Core Elements provide a framework for developing effective sepsis programs, and future NHSN surveys will monitor their implementation.

References

1. Hospital Sepsis Program Core Elements. CDC. August 13, 2024. Accessed August 30, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/sepsis/hcp/core-elements/index.html

2. Sepsis Program Activities in Acute Care Hospitals — National Healthcare Safety Network, United States, 2022. MMWR. August 25, 2024. Accessed August 30, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/72/wr/mm7234a2.htm