All Journals from Joanne Botten
Abstract
Objectives: Patients with suspected Neutropenic sepsis require rapid antibiotic administration, but despite extensive education, only 67% of patients received antibiotics within 60 minutes.
Methods: A Neutropenic Sepsis Alert Card was created, as a Patient Specific Directive - this allows nurses to administer antibiotics to specific patients without prior medical review.
Results: Since the intervention, 301 patients presented with suspected neutropenic sepsis. 277 patients (92%) received their first dose of intravenous antibiotics within 1 hour of arrival into hospital, compared to 95 out of 143 patients (67%) presenting between January and June of 2014 (p=0.036).
Conclusion: The Neutropenic Sepsis Alert Card can significantly improve door to antibiotic needle time for chemotherapy patients with suspected neutropenic sepsis. This intervention is inexpensive and easily replicable in other health care organisations.
Please subscribe to see more.
Subscribe
Subscribe
Already a member? Log in here
Neutropenic sepsis can be life threatening, with mortality 2-21%. The heterogeneity of patients referred with “suspected neutropenic sepsis” has led to strategies being developed to risk-stratify patients and identify those with a low risk of septic complications that could be managed in the outpatient setting, such as The Multinational Association for Supportive Care in Cancer score (MASCC).
Outcomes for patients referred with suspected neutropenic sepsis were assessed before and after use of MASCC guided early-supported discharge.
50/123 (41%) patients over 24 months were eligible for early-supported discharge. 26/50 patients had same-day discharge, 14 had overnight admission, 8 stayed 2 nights and 2 stayed 3 nights. Patients received on average 2 follow-up telephone consultations. There were 5 readmissions (10%) and no adverse events. In comparison group; 8 patients over 3-months would have been suitable, potentially saving 40 bed-days.
This shows MASCC guided early-supported discharge is safe and cost-effective.
Please subscribe to see more.
Subscribe
Subscribe
Already a member? Log in here