End-of-life Decision-Making in Patients with Sepsis related Organ Failure (clinical trial)

Decreasing the burden of end-of-life therapy by improved communication strategies - Eidecs study (Interrupted times series analysis)

Many patients with severe sepsis die on the ICU. End-of-life (EOL) care is often stressful for caregivers and relatives. The goal of this before-and-after study is to reduce the psychological burden for caregivers and relatives in the context of end-of-life therapy on the ICU. Data on communication and teamwork in the context of EOL care is gathered during the first observational period. Then, interventions are implemented and their effect on study endpoints is measured. Primary outcomes are burnout in ICU staff and posttraumatic stress in relatives after 90 day. The project lasts five years (2010 - 2015).

Many patients with severe sepsis die on the ICU. End-of-life (EOL) care is often stressful for caregivers and relatives. The goal of this before-and-after study is to reduce the psychological burden for caregivers and relatives in the context of end-of-life therapy on the ICU. Data on communication and teamwork in the context of EOL care is gathered during the first observational period. Then, interventions are implemented and their effect on study endpoints is measured. Primary outcomes are burnout in ICU staff and posttraumatic stress in relatives after 90 day. The project lasts five years.

PD Dr. med. Christiane Hartog

Medical Education for Sepsis Source Control and Antibiotics (clinical trial)

Clinical impact of novel sepsis guideline implementation strategies: early and appropriate antibiotic therapy of patients with septic shock - Medusa study (Cluster randomized trial)

Fast intravenous antimicrobial therapy within one hour after diagnosis significantly contributes to the patient’s survival. Despite guideline recommendations, the time frame of one hour is commonly exceeded in the daily routine. The goal of this study is to establish a protocol for early detection and fast initial therapy of sepsis in the participating hospitals. We investigate whether such measures improve survival from this disease. This study uses modern implementation strategies such as change management and benchmarking. Success of the measures is compared to control hospitals which only receive standard continued medical education. The project lasts five years.

Medusa

F. Bloos, K. Reinhart

Meta-analysis of procalcitonin (PCT) as diagnostic test and guided therapy for sepsis

Collecting the evidence - PCT-Diagnostics and PCT-Therapy (meta-analyses)

Collecting the evidence - PCT-Diagnostics and PCT-Therapy (meta-analyses)

The usefulness of biomarkers in the diagnosis, therapy, and outcome improvement of severe sepsis is still debated despite a wide body of scientific literature. The goal of these studies was to review and meta-analyze the scientific literature regarding the role of procalcitonin (PCT) in the diagnosis and therapy of severe sepsis. This provides the best available evidence to help clinical decision making in the acute care of patients with severe sepsis. The projects lasted one year.

C. Wacker, A. Prkno, P. Schlattmann