Implementation of Sepsis Protocol for Timely Antibiotic Administration in the Emergency Department

Background: Sepsis is a common condition in the emergency department and a leading cause of death for patients in Thailand. The implementation of a sepsis protocol can prevent death by facilitating appropriate management and ensuring that antibiotics are received within one hour of sepsis diagnosis. Such a protocol has been in use at Srinagarind Hospital, but there have not yet been any studies conducted to evaluate its effectiveness. Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of the Srinagarind Sepsis Protocol in terms of whether patients received appropriate antibiotics within one hour after presentation with sepsis. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study that reviewed the medical records of 192 sepsis patients in the Srinagarind Hospital emergency department from January 2016 to December 2018. Results: Overall, sepsis patients received antibiotics within one hour of diagnosis in 136 cases (70.8%). Prior to protocol implementation, only 56.3% of patients received antibiotics within this time frame, a figure that rose to 87.2% after implementation. The percentage of patients in whom sepsis bundles were completed within three hours also increased after protocol implementation. Conclusion: The treatment protocol allowed patients to receive appropriate antibiotic treatment within one hour and sepsis bundles to be completed within 3 hours of sepsis identification. Keywords: Sepsis, Septic Shock, Antibiotics, Nurses, Emergencies