Effect of the mEWS Alert System on Sepsis Treatment

Sepsis is a suspected infection accompanied by a systemic inflammatory response. A systemic inflammatory response includes at least two of the following: an elevated heart rate, elevated temperature, elevated respiratory rate, or change in blood leukocyte count. Severe sepsis, in addition to the sepsis criteria, also includes organ failure. Septic shock is sepsis with hypotension that is not responsive to IV fluid resuscitation. The Surviving Sepsis Guidelines state that sepsis needs to be treated within three hours with a bundle of interventions: blood cultures, then broad spectrum antibiotics, serum lactic acid, and 30 ml/kg of IV fluids if appropriate.