Improving the management of medical emergency team calls due to suspected infections: A before–after study

Objective

To introduce a management guideline for sepsis-related MET calls to increase lactate and blood culture acquisition, as well as prescription of appropriate antibiotics.

Design

Prospective before (Jun–Aug 2018) and after (Oct–Dec 2018) study was designed.

Setting

A public university linked hospital in Melbourne, Australia.

Participants

Adult patients with MET calls related to sepsis/infection were included.

Main outcome measures

The primary outcome measure was the proportion of MET calls during which both a blood culture and lactate level were ordered. Secondary outcomes included the frequency with which new antimicrobials were commenced by the MET, and the presence and class of administered antimicrobials.

Results

There were 985 and 955 MET calls in the baseline and after periods, respectively. Patient features, MET triggers, limitations of treatment and disposition after the MET call were similar in both groups. Compliance with the acquisition of lactates (p = 0.101), respectively. There was a slight reduction in compliance with lactate acquisition in the after period (97% vs 99%; p = 0.06). In contrast, there was a significant increase in acquisition of blood cultures in the after period (69% vs 78%; p = 0.035).

Conclusions

Introducing a sepsis management guideline and enhanced linkage with an AMS program increased blood culture acquisition and decreased broad spectrum antimicrobial use but didn't change in-hospital mortality.