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Sepsis remains one of the most challenging and life-threatening conditions worldwide, affecting millions each year. It poses significant diagnostic and management challenges, particularly in intensive care units (ICUs). A recent national survey was launched to understand sepsis management practices, improve outcomes, and identify gaps in diagnosis and treatment among healthcare professionals (HCPs) in India.

The survey targeted infectious disease specialists, microbiologists, and intensivists working in private hospitals, primarily secondary care facilities. The overarching aim was to gather insights into their practices, experiences, and challenges in combating sepsis effectively.

Defining Goals: Capturing Insights to Improve Sepsis Management

The primary goal of the survey was to capture actionable data on sepsis management across diverse hospital settings. Specifically, the initiative aimed to:

1. Assess the epidemiology of sepsis and its prevalence in ICUs.
2. Examine diagnostic and treatment practices.
3. Highlight adherence to standardized protocols and identify areas needing improvement.
4. Collect insights from over 300 healthcare professionals across different specialties to inform future interventions.

Strategic Outreach: Engaging Healthcare Professionals for Impactful Insights

To achieve these objectives, the survey was conducted in two phases—April to June and October to November 2024. A strategic outreach campaign was implemented, combining SMS marketing and omnichannel efforts via medical platforms. This approach targeted 11,196 HCPs, including 42 infectious disease specialists, 2,032 microbiologists, and 9,122 intensivists.

Participants were engaged through:

• Weekly SMS campaigns to promote the survey.
• Use of a medical learning platform and website to optimize participation.
• Clear and consistent messaging to encourage response rates.

This robust outreach strategy resulted in 46,342 impressions and 304 completed responses, surpassing the initial participation goals.

Result

The survey revealed critical insights into sepsis management practices:

1. Epidemiology: Most participants encountered sepsis in 10–30% of ICU cases monthly, indicating its significant clinical burden.
2. Pathogens: Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the most common ICU pathogen (70.07%), followed by E. coli and Acinetobacter baumannii, emphasizing the threat of nosocomial infections.
3. Diagnostics: While 59.9% routinely tested for carbapenemase genes, gaps in consistent diagnostic tool availability were noted.
4. Treatment: Carbapenems were the preferred therapy (63.6%), with 42.9% reporting treatment durations exceeding seven days. Targeted therapies based on microbiology results were practiced by 87.8% of respondents.
5. Protocol Adherence: An encouraging 86.1% reported using standardized sepsis management protocols.
    

Despite these strengths, the survey identified the need for improved diagnostic resources and broader protocol implementation. It also highlighted the importance of continuous training for healthcare professionals to enhance sepsis outcomes.

This initiative succeeded in fostering collaboration, shedding light on critical challenges, and paving the way for targeted improvements. By leveraging these findings, healthcare systems can strengthen their fight against sepsis, ultimately saving lives and advancing clinical care practices.