managing suspected sepsis outside acute hospital settings

Last reviewed 01/2018

Managing suspected sepsis outside acute hospital settings

Refer all people with suspected sepsis outside acute hospital settings for emergency medical care by the most appropriate means of transport (usually 999 ambulance) if:

• they meet any high risk criteria or
  
  
• they are aged under 17 years and their immunity is impaired by drugs or
  
  
• illness and they have any moderate to high risk criteria.

Assess all people with suspected sepsis outside acute hospital settings with any moderate to high risk criteria to:

• make a definitive diagnosis of their condition
• decide whether they can be treated safely outside hospital
  
  
• if a definitive diagnosis is not reached or the person cannot be treated safely outside an acute hospital setting, refer them urgently for emergency care.

Provide people with suspected sepsis, who do not have any high or moderate to high risk criteria information about symptoms to monitor and how to access medical care if they are concerned

Reference:

• NICE (July 2016). Sepsis: recognition, diagnosis and early management