Early lactate measurements appear to improve results for septic patients

Early lactate measurements appear to improve results for septic patients:





The relationship between delay in initial lactate measurement and the probability of in-hospital mortality for patients meeting SEP-1 criteria, stratified by level of initial lactate value 

(mmol/L) and adjusted for patient location, eCART score, and lactate value. Credit: CHEST

On October 1, 2015, the United States Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a bundle of recommendations defining optimal treatment of patients suffering from sepsis, a life-threatening response to infection that causes more than 250,000 deaths each year in the United States.

These recommendations, the Severe Sepsis and Septic Shock Early Management Bundle (SEP-1), require hospitals to complete three interventions within a few hours of the onset of sepsis. Two of the three requirements were well established: obtain blood cultures and administer early IV antibiotics. (Something St. Josephs Hospital doesn't believe in.)