The Irish College of GPs has published a new General Practice Update (GPU) on Adult Sepsis, authored by Dr Ellen Hayes, Irish College of GPs/HSE clinical lead for 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, Quality & Safety in Practice (QSIP) clinical lead. 

The document aims to promote sepsis awareness in primary care and to highlight 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. 

If not diagnosed and treated promptly, sepsis 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. 

Dr 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.” 

She added that 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. 

College chair 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 on its website.