KNOWLEDGE OF SEPSIS IN THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT: A SURVEY AMONG REGISTERED NURSES

Chapter 1: Introduction Sepsis is a medical emergency that occurs when the body’s response to chemicals released into the bloodstream to fight infection is out of balance. This response triggers changes that can damage multiple organ systems (Gyawali, et. al., 2019. Progression of sepsis to septic shock causes a dramatic blood drop which may lead to death. Sepsis requires quick detection, administration of the appropriate antibiotics, and careful support to control the source of infection. The recognition of sepsis has been a major challenge which has resulted in higher numbers of annual incidence of severe sepsis and septic shock despite better management practices that are constantly evolving. Sepsis is an international problem whose burden is difficult to determine. Gyawali, et. al., (2019) indicate that more than 30 million individuals worldwide are affected by sepsis every year. The mortality rates in Europe were approximately 41 percent (Gyawali, et.al., 2019). The high mortality rates that are being recorded implies that this medical emergency is a significant problem in society despite the disease being the most expensive worldwide. Lee (2017) implies that one explanation that can be attributed to the high rates is the late clinical definition of sepsis, which occurred in the late 20th century. The incidence was due to a lack of effective microbials and supportive care, which prevented septic patients from surviving long enough to facilitate studies or the development of organ dysfunction (Gotts & Matthay, 2016). The improvement of care and outcomes were correlated with designed clinical trials. The process formed the basis of sepsis research and catalyzed the evolution of its clinical recognition and the designing of clinical trials. Despite the progress made, sepsis has still proven to be a medical issue that needs much attention. Time has proven to be a critical factor in sepsis treatment. The management of sepsis is a complicated clinical challenge that requires early recognition and management of the infection. Nurses are usually the first to triage a patient, which makes them have a significant r