title: Implementation of an evidence-based sepsis program in the intensive care unit: evident or not?
abstract: Severe sepsis and septic shock are among the most serious health conditions and are associated with unwelcome clinical, social, and economic outcomes. With the introduction of the Surviving Sepsis Campaign guidelines, the campaign leaders aimed to reduce mortality from severe sepsis by at least one quarter by 2009 by means of a six-point action plan, namely, building awareness among health care professionals, improving early and accurate disease recognition and diagnosis, increasing the use of appropriate treatments and interventions, education, getting better post-intensive care unit access, and developing standard processes of care. However, adherence to these recommendations is a first but crucial step in obtaining these goals. A comprehensive evaluation of both, adherence to a sepsis program and whether this results in better outcomes for patients, is therefore essential to guide informed decision-making regarding the implementation of such an evidence-based protocol.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Ghent University Hospital, De Pintelaan 185, 9000 Ghent, Belgium. Dominique.Vandijck@UGent.be
authors.forename: Dominique M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Vandijck
authors.forename: Stijn I
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Blot
authors.forename: Dirk P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Vogelaers
mesh_terms: D003422:Critical Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D016730:Program Development; D018805:Sepsis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index