Results of a 2023 State of Sepsis Awareness Survey

As reported by Infection Control Today^® (ICT^®), sepsis is an often deadly condition. It is the second highest cause of readmissions, death, and expenses in US health care facilities. Only congestive heart failure is more common. Vaccines are being developed for sepsis, but more must be done. The CDC recently launched a new sepsis guide for hospitals, but how do patients and caregivers feel about the danger of sepsis and its complications?

The survey’s organizers were trying to examine the feedback of a group of survey respondents who have either received a sepsis diagnosis or have a loved one affected by it. They compare the respondents’ views and opinions on various health care issues, such as antibiotic prescription and antimicrobial resistance.

"Sepsis is a societal crisis that exacts a terrible cost to patients and the healthcare system. Our company’s mission is to prevent the avoidable harm and death caused by sepsis misdiagnosis by one day eliminating this risk to patient safety and care quality,” Greg Bullington, CEO and cofounder of Magnolia Medical Technologies, Inc, which published the survey, told ICT. We do so through purposeful innovation that improves the accuracy of critical lab tests used to identify and optimize treatment for this condition and through our provider and patient outreach efforts. This report highlights the need for additional education on the diagnostic and care pathway for suspected sepsis so that consumers can take the appropriate action, when needed, to improve outcomes for themselves and their loved ones if they encounter this devastating disease.”

This study, "State of Sepsis Awareness 2023," stemmed from the data acquired from the recent report, “State of Hospitalized Patient Care in the U.S. 2023,” which examines how important it is to consider how much people understand and are concerned about risks in hospitals, such as antibiotic stewardship and hospital-acquired infections.

The study’s data highlights include Individuals with prior experience of sepsis were 67% more likely to feel "Extremely fearful" about contracting an infection during their hospital stay compared to those without sepsis experience. Those individuals who had encountered sepsis were 30% more inclined to "Strongly agree" that health care providers should exercise greater caution when prescribing antibiotics. Individuals affected by sepsis demonstrated a 30% higher level of familiarity with the term "AMR" (antimicrobial resistance). Respondents who had experienced sepsis themselves or through their loved ones were also 46% more concerned "about the consequences of infections caused by bacteria resistant to antimicrobial treatment on their current and future health." Those impacted by sepsis were 38% more likely to "Strongly agree" that there is a necessity for "increased education for patients regarding antimicrobial-resistant bacteria." Finally, individuals affected by sepsis displayed a 49% higher awareness that "inaccurate results from a blood culture test can result in unnecessary administration of antibiotics" compared to those unaffected by sepsis.