Sepsis is a medical emergency that, without early treatment, can cause organ damage and a life-threatening risk. Septic shock, a severe variant, significantly increases the risk of death due to severe circulatory and metabolic problems.
In Latin America, sepsis is a significant health problem, with high mortality rates from septic shock in countries like Brazil, Colombia, and Argentina. Factors such as lack of access to clean water, inadequate sanitation and nutrition, insufficient vaccination, limited awareness of sepsis, restricted access to intensive care, and more healthcare-associated infections contribute to this burden.
Read more about how MEG QMS helped Austral University Hospital get real-time assurance on nursing care standards
Infographic on Sepsis in LATAM
Key Data:
70% of healthcare workers and 50% of surgical teams do not regularly practice hand hygiene.
Proper hand hygiene saves millions of lives when performed correctly in healthcare.
Sepsis is a greater burden in low and middle-income countries, causing maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality.
Estimating the global burden of sepsis is challenging due to limitations in diagnosis and reporting.
31 million people suffer from sepsis annually.
Approximately 6 million people die from sepsis each year.
Source: OMS, OPS, NIH, NIH, Acta Medica Colombiana, Scielo, A literature review of the epidemiology of sepsis in Latin America
Global and LATAM Sepsis Data
The Current Landscape
The sepsis landscape in Latin America presents several significant challenges. Studies lack proper research and comprehensive data, limiting our understanding of sepsis in the region. Urban expansion in middle-income countries creates uncertainty in the availability of emergency healthcare. Deficiencies in intensive care units and high rates of sepsis and mortality surpass global averages. The lack of reliable population data hinders assessment and effective strategy implementation. Bridging the gap between scientific evidence and patient care is an ongoing challenge, as are concerns about cost-effectiveness, particularly in emerging economies that require further research.
Sepsis Is Preventable, as the Data Shows
Sepsis is preventable, as indicated by available data. It mostly originates from healthcare-associated infections, often resistant to antibiotics, resulting in costly and harmful consequences. Unfortunately, sepsis often goes unnoticed in its early stages and is not properly diagnosed. Raising awareness and early detection are essential to address this critical health issue.
See MEG in action with the Antibiotic Administration Survey
PAHO (Pan American Health Organization) works on the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of sepsis by strengthening healthcare systems, promoting hygiene and infection control practices, improving sanitation and vaccine access, and providing protective equipment to healthcare professionals in healthcare settings.
Efficiently Addressing the Issue: Proposals and Solutions
To effectively address the challenge of sepsis, it is essential to support the WHO's resolution of this disease and establish national action plans. This involves improving access to healthcare and reducing disparities in care. Additionally, focus on sepsis prevention through measures such as improved sanitation, promotion of vaccination, and ensuring adequate nutrition, aiming to reduce maternal and paediatric death rates.
Cooperation and healthcare professional training are essential to ensure proper sepsis treatment, supported by strong national policies. It is also crucial to promote awareness of sepsis among both the public and healthcare professionals, including celebrating World Sepsis Day. Specific measures must be implemented to address antimicrobial resistance and hospital-acquired infections. Finally, collaborative research is key to better understanding sepsis and setting priorities for proper diagnosis and treatment of this disease.
The future of sepsis management in LATAM depends on addressing these challenges directly. Accurate diagnosis, increased awareness, and precise coding are essential. Local epidemiological knowledge and understanding of resistance patterns are crucial. Preparedness for outbreaks and the adoption of innovative approaches will guide the way. By joining efforts, LATAM can effectively address sepsis and improve overall healthcare outcomes for its population.
A Solution from MEG
When it comes to antibiotic administration, early sepsis detection and effective governance measures are crucial. This allows us to establish appropriate intervals for antibiotic administration, efficiently determining the critical timing.
Through proper auditing, we can streamline data collection and report generation in a matter of minutes, freeing up time for the team to implement significant improvements. Furthermore, this auditing provides us with the ability to correct actions based on risk levels, following clinical best practices. This is achieved by implementing an action plan and optimising resources.
To carry out this process effectively, it is important to assign:
Task status
Timeline
Audit schedules
Follow-up and completion
It is also relevant to note that this process can be carried out on both mobile devices and computers, ensuring the secure execution and compliance with procedures. Additionally, it can be configured to adapt to specific workflows and processes.
See MEG in action with Infection Prevention and Control Audits