Use of quick sequential organ failure assessment score-based sepsis clinical decision support system may be helpful to predict sepsis development

Abstract

Objectives: A sepsis clinical decision support system (CDSS) can facilitate quicker sepsis detection and treatment and consequently improve outcomes. We developed a qSOFA-based sepsis CDSS and evaluated its impact on compliance with a 3-hour resuscitation bundle for patients with sepsis.

Methods: This before-and-after study included consecutive adult patients with suspected infection and qSOFA scores of >= 2 at their emergency department (ED) presentation of a tertiary care hospital. Sepsis was defined according to the Sepsis3 criteria. We evaluated the 3-hour resuscitation bundle compliance rate for control patients from July through August 2016, for patients using the qSOFA-based sepsis CDSS from September through December 2016, and the impact of the system using multivariable logistic regression analysis.

Results: Of 306 patients with suspected infection and positive qSOFA scores at presentation, 265 patients (86.6%) developed sepsis (including 71 patients with septic shock). The 3-hour resuscitation bundle compliance rate did not differ significantly between the patients before and after the routine implementation of the qSOFA-based sepsis CDSS (63.7% vs. 52.6%; P = 0.071). Multivariate analysis showed that age (AOR [adjusted odds ratio], 1.033; P = 0.002) and body temperature (AOR, 1.677; P < 0.001) were associated with bundle compliance.

Conclusions: Among patients with a positive qSOFA score at presentation, sepsis developed in 86.6%, which means the qSOFA-based sepsis CDSS may be helpful; however, it was not associated with improved bundle compliance. Future quality improvement studies with multifactorial, hospital-wide approaches using sepsis CDSS tools are warranted.