Irish College of GPs publishes new sepsis update to assist GPs in the detection and management of suspected sepsis in adults.
New update highlights role of vaccination in sepsis prevention.
The Irish College of GPs* is the professional body for general practice in Ireland. The College is the representative organisation for education, training and standards in general practice, with 4,500 members and associates comprising over 85% of practicing GPs in the Republic of Ireland and 1191 GPs in training.
The College has today (22nd October) published a General Practice Update (GPU) on Adult Sepsis, authored by Dr Ellen Hayes, Irish College of GPs/HSE Clinical Lead Adult Sepsis, along with Dr Diarmuid Quinlan, College Medical Director, Dr Michael O’Dwyer, Clinical Lead, National Clinical Programme in Sepsis, and Dr Emer O’Brien, College Quality & Safety in Practice (QSIP) Clinical Lead.
This document aims to promote sepsis awareness in primary care and to promote vaccination as an essential part of sepsis prevention. It aims to assist GPs in the detection and management of suspected sepsis, recognising the importance of clinical judgement in the decision-making process. It also highlights the multiple challenges facing both patients and GPs in the prompt recognition of sepsis.
Sepsis is a time-dependent medical emergency which results from a dysregulated immune response to an infection. If not diagnosed and treated promptly, it can rapidly progress to organ failure, septic shock and death. Early recognition of suspected sepsis is vital to enable timely escalation to medical review in an acute hospital.
The Irish College of GPs/HSE Clinical Lead Adult Sepsis, Dr Ellen Hayes, said: “It is estimated that 70-80% of sepsis arises in the community. GPs have a unique opportunity, but face unique challenges, for prompt recognition and referral of patients with suspected sepsis. Early sepsis detection is difficult, there is a huge variability in the clinical presentation of sepsis in primary care and sepsis may not always be evident on initial presentation.”
Dr Hayes added: “Promoting the uptake of vaccinations to reduce the risk of infection and sepsis is a key message to GPs. Careful antibiotic prescribing to reduce the risk of antibiotic resistance is also key to preserve treatment options for infection and sepsis into the future.”
The GPU provides GPs with an easily accessible algorithm to assist in the prompt detection and management of adult sepsis in general practice; it acknowledges the role of general practice in increasing public awareness and that an increased awareness of sepsis risk factors, signs and symptoms is critical to save lives from sepsis.
The Chief Clinical Officer of the HSE, Dr Colm Henry, launched the update at the headquarters of the Irish College of GPs in Dublin.
The Chair of the Board of the Irish College of GPs, Dr Deirdre Collins, said: “We know that GPs are the first port of call for a huge range of illnesses and conditions in the community. This Update will help our members with sepsis awareness and support them in responding quickly where they suspect sepsis may be present. Sepsis can be deadly, and difficult to diagnose, depending on the patient’s age, and other risk factors. Being able to recognise it early can make a huge difference.”
The Update is available for members of the Irish College of GPs via the Clinical Hub.
*The Irish College of GPs was formerly known as the Irish College of General Practitioners.
ISSUED BY: Aileen O’Meara, Communications Consultant, Irish College of GPs. Tel. 01 2542984/ 087 2239830 Email: media@icgp.ie