Background

Sepsis is a severe condition which affects 300–800/100,000 persons each year. There are indications that the prehospital identification of patients with sepsis is difficult. The aim of the study was, among patients with a final hospital diagnosis of sepsis, to compare emergency medical service (EMS) field assessments of patients in whom there was a prehospital suspicion of sepsis with those without this suspicion.

Methods

The study had a retrospective, observational design. The data used in the study were retrieved from the prehospital and hospital medical records of patients with a final hospital diagnosis of sepsis, transported to hospital by the EMS within a region in the south west of Sweden during a period of one year.

Results

Among patients with a final diagnosis of sepsis (n = 353), the EMS identified the condition in 36% of the cases. These patients were characterised by more abnormal vital signs (a higher respiratory rate and heart rate and more frequent temperature abnormalities) and were more ambitiously assessed (more lung auscultations and more assessments of the degree of consciousness).

Conclusion

The EMS was already able to identify 36% of patients with a final diagnosis of sepsis in the prehospital phase. There were minor differences in the prehospital assessment between patients who were identified by the EMS nurse and those who were not.