'Could this be sepsis?'.

SEPSIS IS a leading cause of preventable death, the incidence of which has increased markedly over the past 40 years. While mortality rates are improving, one-fifth of patients with severe sepsis die. Early identification and intervention arekey to survival - delayed care for inpatients who develop sepsis is the main reason why this group has a higher mortality rate than people admitted with sepsis. Internationally, the Surviving Sepsis Campaign promotes screening of "every patient, every shift, every day" for sepsis, while new United Kingdom guidelines recommend health practitioners ask, "Could this be sepsis?" for any patient with signs of a possible infection. Nurses are best placed to identify sepsis early and ensure timely treatment. A thorough understanding of the events underlying development of sepsis, and its risks, will help nurses in this life-saving role. The goal is that all nurses, in all settings, consider, as a first priority, the possibility of sepsis in any infant, child or adult presenting with an infection.