| Abstract The focus of the practice improvement project was to determine if or to what extent a relationship between earlier (within one-hour) intravenous antibiotic administration and the reduction of sepsis mortality existed. The project was based upon two clinical questions which include: In adult patients with severe sepsis and/or septic shock, how does intravenous antibiotic administration within one-hour of sepsis identification effect mortality during the acute care hospital stay? In adult patients with severe sepsis and/or septic shock, how does intravenous antibiotic administration within three-hours of sepsis identification effect mortality during the acute care hospital stay? The practice improvement project utilized a quantitative methodology with a correlational design. The investigator's predictions and clinical questions were tested using a simple regression analysis. The location of the project was a Southern Texas hospital system consisting of five acute care facilities, and a sample of 270 severe sepsis and septic shock patients admitted over 12 months. The theoretical underpinnings for the practice improvement project included the AACN synergy model for patient care and the IHI model for improvement. The project results showed no statistically significant correlation between antibiotic timing and sepsis mortality was determined. The implications include focusing on antibiotic appropriateness, barriers to timely antibiotic administration, the effect of fluid resuscitation on sepsis mortality, and the effect of elevated lactate levels on sepsis mortality. |
