Background: Systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and sepsis are now frequently identified by\nobservations of vital signs and detection of organ failure during triage in the emergency room. However, there is\nless focus on the effect on patient outcome with better observation and treatment at the ward level.\nMethods: This was a before-and-after intervention study in one emergency and community hospital within the\nMid-Norway Sepsis Study catchment area. All patients with confirmed bloodstream infection have been\nprospectively registered continuously since 1994. Severity of sepsis, observation frequency of vital signs, treatment\ndata, length of stay (LOS) in high dependency and intensive care units, and mortality were retrospectively\nregistered from the patients� medical journals.\nResults: The post-intervention group (n = 409) were observed better and had higher odds of surviving\n30 days (OR 2.7, 95 % CI 1.6, 4.6), lower probability of developing severe organ failure (0.7, 95 % CI 0.4, 0.9),\nand on average, 3.7 days (95 % CI 1.5, 5.9 days) shorter LOS than the pre-intervention group (n = 472).\nConclusions: In a cohort with stable mortality rates, early sepsis recognition by ward nurses may have\nreduced progression of disease and improved survival for patients in hospital with sepsis
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