[National quality registry can improve care in life-threatening sepsis].

A number of evidence based treatment goals have been identified for the initial care of patients with severe sepsis and septic shock. To assess the compliance with these goals in Sweden, the Swedish Society of Infectious Diseases has created a web based registry for patients with community acquired severe sepsis or septic shock that are treated at the Intensive Care Unit within 24 h of arrival to the hospital. Data from the registry are returned regularly to the participating departments allowing comparison of their own performance with aggregate data from all Sweden which may constitute a basis for improvements in the respective emergency departments. Data from the registry suggest that there is considerable room for improvement in the initial care of patients with severe community acquired infections.