Earlier this year, CHEST released new clinical resources on sepsis and antibiotic stewardship developed by the Sepsis Resources Steering Committee with grant support from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The resources – including infographics, videos, podcasts, and research commentaries – aim to help clinicians increase their knowledge of sepsis prevention and treatment, especially when considering the use of antibiotics.
According to CHEST Past President, Steven Q. Simpson, MD, FCCP, who serves as Chair of the Sepsis Resources Steering Committee, sepsis is the number one cause of death in U.S. hospitals . It’s also the most expensive condition treated in those hospitals.
“Perhaps the single most important tool we have to fight sepsis is our array of antimicrobial therapies, including antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral agents,” Dr. Simpson said. “It is vital that we use the antibiotics we have wisely and preserve them for future use.”
He pointed to the apparent tension between the need to administer broad-spectrum antimicrobials quickly to patients with sepsis and the need to limit the use of broad-spectrum agents as much as possible. But these concepts aren’t at odds with each another, he said. They’re allies in the sepsis war.
CHEST’s new resources can help clinicians practice good antimicrobial stewardship as they balance these needs. Included in the collection is a two-part video discussion exploring conservative and aggressive approaches to antibiotic use in suspected sepsis. A series of podcasts delves into complex sepsis cases, and easy-reference infographics outline key components of an antimicrobial stewardship program, rapid diagnostics for infectious diseases in the ICU, and sepsis mimics.
Steering committee members were chosen from CHEST’s membership for their clinical expertise in sepsis, infectious diseases, and antimicrobial stewardship. The committee selected topics based on current practice and knowledge gaps where education is most needed.
Working with the CDC increases CHEST’s impact in this area. Much of the care of patients with sepsis happens before they reach the ICU. The CDC’s broad reach with general and specialty medical audiences allows CHEST to share these resources with a wide array of clinicians who practice inside and outside of the ICU.
“Cooperation with the CDC gives us an opportunity to spread CHEST’s knowledge and expertise to a much broader audience, making the CDC a powerful partner and allowing us to serve the nation and beyond in a way that we cannot do by ourselves,” Dr. Simpson said.
Access the full collection of sepsis resources at chestnet.org/topic-collections/sepsis.