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Tribune News Network
Doha
ON the occasion of World Sepsis Day observed annually on September 13, Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) raised awareness about the dangers of the disease and the importance of its early detection for effective treatment among both staff members and the public.
Sepsis is a serious illness which results from an infection that alters the body's normal response, causing injury to tissue and organs. Once contracted, sepsis and septic shock can quickly lead to the failure of organs, including the lungs, kidneys and liver. According to World Health Organization (WHO) statistics, every year around 30 million people die of sepsis across the world.
HMC's Director of the Medical Critical Care Division and Chair of the Sepsis Steering Committee, Dr Ibrahim Fawzy Hassan, explained that some people have a higher risk of developing sepsis than others.
"Anyone can develop sepsis, whether at home or in hospital, but some people are more at risk, especially if they have a compromised immune system; for instance babies, elderly people, patients with chronic diseases and those who are on immunosuppressive medication," said Dr Hassan.
"The best way to help prevent sepsis from occurring is through practising good hygiene through hand washing and other infection prevention practices, having safe water and sanitation, sanitary food preparation and nutrition, and getting proper vaccinations," he added.
According to Dr Hassan, once sepsis is contracted, it is essential that the illness is diagnosed as early as possible and that appropriate antibiotic treatment is administered. He said treatment for severe cases of sepsis must be given within one hour of diagnosis, often referred to as the 'golden hour'.
In recent years, HMC has been working to implement a system-wide sepsis programme with a standardised care pathway that facilitates early detection and treatment. The programme, which was developed in collaboration with international experts, is currently being piloted across several HMC hospitals.
Dr Ahmed Labib, senior consultant at the Medical Intensive Care Unit at Hamad General Hospital, said in recent years, HMC, in collaboration with international experts, has introduced a sepsis programme to standardise care pathways for patients with suspected sepsis. He said the development of the programme has been a very complex undertaking.
"There are different schools of thought relating to how best to diagnose sepsis and also when and what treatment to administer to which patient group. We have conducted a lot of research to develop a robust and sustainable, evidence-based program that is right for our clinical system," said Dr Labib.
Dr Labib added that the sepsis programme was part of a comprehensive patient safety agenda initiated at HMC in 2017 and includes key definitions, treatment guidelines and staff roles and responsibilities.
HMC's sepsis programme is also supported through the efforts of Qatar's National Patient Safety Collaborative (NPSC), which is intended to help build a learning network nationally.
