Tuscany Region Issues Sepsis Treatment and Management Guidelines

The Tuscany Region has presented a comprehensive document that presents strategies for sepsis recognition and treatment in the various contexts in which sepsis can occur, as well as for the prevention of this serious pathology and of the infections that cause it.

The document is the result of the work of a pool of clinical experts selected within the regional health authorities. The effort is coordinated by the Regional Clinical Risk Management and Patient Safety Centre (GRC) and the Agenzia Regionale di Sanità (ARS, Tuscany Region Healthcare Agency). The editors of the document are Giulio Toccafondi from the Quality Improvemnet Committee of GSA and Giorgio Tulli.

This document is based on the Surviving Sepsis Campaign guidelines and on evidence reported in the literature concerning microbiology, clinical care, human factors, quality and safety of care. It proposes a vision of the critical issues that sepsis brings with it to the healthcare system, a vision not attributable to a single disciplinary perspective but rather an expression of multiple viewpoints of team members. The document suggests and indicates approaches that are integrated on both a strategic-organizational level and in clinical-care practice.

The Global Sepsis Alliance welcomes the thorough work of Tuscany Region and is keen to learn about its implementation, including achievements and challenges.

This is a great example of what national, but also regional authorities can do to support their health system’s preparedness to prevent, manage and treat sepsis, as recommended in the WHA 70.7 Resolution on sepsis. The GSA strongly exhort national and regional authorities to undertake similar efforts and stands ready to support such efforts.