Background

Sepsis in the world

Although advancements in medicine and healthcare have caused an increase in life expectancy globally, sepsis still remains a prominent cause of death. In 2017, an estimated 48.9 million instances of sepsis were recorded and 11 million sepsis-associated deaths were reported. This figure represented 19.7% of all deaths worldwide. As discussed in the introduction, in the UK around 234,000 patients develop sepsis, and up to 52,000 deaths are associated with the condition.

The Ambulance Services have a vital role to play in the outcome of Sepsis patients, with around half of ED Sepsis patients arriving by ambulance. By recognising Sepsis early and providing treatment and a pre-alert, Ambulance Staff can help improve the outcomes of Sepsis patients.