New sepsis guidelines developed to improve patient care

Medical experts, led by Taison Bell of UVA Health, have developed new clinical guidelines to improve the treatment of sepsis. The guidelines were assembled on behalf of the Infectious Diseases Society of America and seven other professional organizations.

Sepsis is a life-threatening condition where the body’s immune response to an infection becomes uncontrolled, potentially leading to organ failure. It is estimated to cause at least 350,000 deaths annually in the United States.

The new protocols aim to standardize hospital workflows and enhance infection-related practices. Key areas of focus include diagnostic testing, pathogen detection, antimicrobial management, infection prevention, surveillance, and hospital infrastructure support.