Characteristics of the prehospital phase of adult emergency department patients with an infection: A prospective pilot study.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Research on serious infections/sepsis has focused on the hospital environment, while potentially the most delay, and therefore possibly the best opportunity to improve quality of care, lies in the prehospital setting. In this study we investigated the prehospital phase of adult emergency department (ED) patients with an infection.

Methods

In this prospective pilot study all adult (≥18y) patients with a suspected/proven infection, based on the notes in the patient's ED chart, were included during a 4-week period in 2017. Prehospital course, ED findings, presence of sepsis and 30-day outcomes were registered.

Results

A total of 440 patients were identified, with a median symptom duration before ED visit of 3 days (IQR 1-7 days). Before arrival in the ED, 23.9%

SUBMITTER: Latten GHP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6366787 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature