Killer disease 'under-reported' by hospitals

In England there are at least 112,000 cases of severe sepsis and septic shock each year, according to the All Party Parliamentary Group. This figure is nearly four times higher than the total reported by Trusts in response to Freedom of Information requests.

Trusts recorded a total of 23,368 cases of severe sepsis and 5,016 cases of septic shock – a total of 28,384 (25%) of the 112,000 total. These figures come despite the fact that 64% of Trusts reported that they have mechanisms in place for recording both forms of sepsis. 43 Trusts admitted to having no mechanisms in place at all.

The data also reveals that less than a third of Trusts (30%) frequently give patients the critical antibiotics for severe sepsis within the first hour of hospital care.

Sarah Newton MP, Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Sepsis, added: "Sepsis is a major killer and the first step to fighting it is recording it properly. There is huge room for improvement in how Trusts record sepsis and sepsis deaths.”

A life-threatening complication of infection, sepsis is a time-critical condition that can lead to organ damage, multi-organ failure, septic shock and eventually death. Hospital related infections leading to sepsis can be decreased by strictly following hand washing and hygiene protocols.