Every year, 40,000 children are hospitalized for sepsis in the U.S. Almost 5,000 children die from sepsis, more than from cancer, and 25 percent to 40 percent of those who survive sepsis suffer from long-term health issues.
Research has advanced our understanding of sepsis, yet it remains a leading cause of death in hospitalized children. Challenging sepsis saves children's lives.
Improving Sepsis Outcomes, Together
Improving Pediatric Sepsis Outcomes (IPSO) is a national collaborative that aims to reduce sepsis-attributable mortality and improve survivor outcomes through early identification and timely treatment. More than 57 children’s hospitals are collaborating through IPSO to challenge sepsis and generate ideas for improvement.
Sepsis can be difficult to diagnose, and effective recognition is complex—requiring high levels of coordination. To meet the challenge, IPSO hospitals are simultaneously driving improvement in diagnostic processes, clinical care, infection prevention, lab, pharmacy, decision support, and data infrastructure—and doing so across multiple settings: ED, PICU, general care, hematology/oncology and transplant units.
IPSO's Impact: By the Numbers
Data demonstrates that IPSO strategies are succeeding in identifying sepsis earlier and initiating more timely treatment:
- 19% decrease in sepsis-related mortality.
- 30% increase in sepsis patients being recognized.
- 30% increase in the use of sepsis recognition and diagnostic bundles.
- 6% decrease in hospital days per sepsis episodes.
- 7% decrease in time to first fluid bolus.
- 10% decrease in time to first IV antibiotic.
Evidence shows the five key processes accelerate progress toward reducing mortality and hospital-onset severe sepsis.
- Sepsis screening.
- Sepsis huddle.
- Order set utilization.
- Time to first fluid bolus.
- Time to first IV antibiotic.
The IPSO Collaborative is nearing the end of its lifecycle. However, we remain dedicated to improving pediatric sepsis outcomes through collaboration.
