Objectives

Sepsis is a common cause of maternal mortality and morbidity. Early detection and rapid management are essential. In this study, we evaluate the compliance with the implemented maternity-specific Early Warning Score (EWS), Rapid Response Team (RRT) protocol and the Surviving Sepsis Campaign (SSC) Hour-1 Bundle in a tertiary hospital in the Netherlands.

Methods

We performed a retrospective patient chart review from July 2019 to June 2020 at the Leiden University Medical Centre. We included women who received therapeutic antibiotics and were admitted for at least 24 hours.

Results

We included 240 women: ten were admitted twice and one woman three times, comprising 252 admissions. A clinical diagnosis of sepsis was made in 22 women. The EWS was used in 29% (n = 73/252) of admissions. Recommendations on the follow-up of the EWS were carried out in 53% (n = 46/87). Compliance with the RRT protocol was highest for assessment by a medical doctor within 30 minutes (n = 98/117, 84%) and lowest for RRT involvement (n = 7/23, 30%). In women with sepsis, compliance with the SSC Bundle was highest for acquiring blood cultures (n = 19/22, 85%), while only 64% (n = 14/22) received antibiotics within 60 minutes of the sepsis diagnosis.

Conclusion

The adherence to the maternity-specific EWS and the SSC Hour-1 bundle was insufficient, even within this tertiary setting in a high-income country.

Overview publication

TitleCompliance with maternal sepsis guidelines in a tertiary hospital in the Netherlands.
DateFebruary 1st, 2024
Issue nameHospital practice (1995)
Issue numberv52.1-2:29-33
DOI10.1080/21548331.2024.2320068
PubMed38407122
Authorsde Vries BS, Verschueren KJC, Jansen S, Bekker V, Veenhof MB & van den Akker T
KeywordsMaternal sepsis, early warning score, rapid response team, sepsis management, sepsis prevention, surviving sepsis campaign
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