How to screen and provide rapid initial treatment for sepsis in adult patients

Sepsis is a serious, life-threatening condition in which a dysregulated host response to infection causes organ dysfunction, potentially leading to death. It is a time-critical condition, so early recognition of deterioration potentially due to sepsis, escalation to a senior clinician and rapid initial treatment are key for improving outcomes and saving lives. Nurses screening patients for sepsis must have the knowledge and skills required to do so effectively, working within their level of competence. • Sepsis is a life-threatening and time-critical condition that requires prompt recognition and treatment. • To ensure comprehensive and accurate screening, it is recommended to use an early warning score observation chart and a sepsis screening tool. • The 'sepsis six' is a bundle of six activities that must be carried out to improve patient outcomes when sepsis is suspected. REFLECTIVE ACTIVITY: 'How to' articles can help to update your practice and ensure it remains evidence-based. Apply this article to your practice. Reflect on and write a short account of: • How this article might improve your practice when screening and providing rapid initial treatment for sepsis in adults. • How you could use this information to educate nursing students or colleagues about screening and providing rapid initial treatment for sepsis in adults.