Prehospital Fluid Administration for Suspected Sepsis in a Large EMS System: Opportunities to Improve Goal Fluid Delivery

Abstract

Objectives

Despite EMS-implemented screening and treatment protocols for suspected sepsis patients, prehospital fluid therapy is variable. We sought to describe prehospital fluid administration in suspected sepsis patients, including demographic and clinical factors associated with fluid outcomes.

Methods

A retrospective cohort of adult patients from a large, county-wide EMS system from January 2018-February 2020 was identified. Patient care reports for suspected sepsis were included, as identified by EMS clinician impression of sepsis, or keywords “sepsis” or “septic” in the narrative. Outcomes were the proportions of suspected sepsis patients for whom intravenous (IV) therapy was attempted and those who received ≥500 mL IV fluid if IV access was successful. Associations between patient demographics and clinical factors with fluid outcomes were estimated with multivariable logistic regression adjusting for transport interval.

Results

Of 4,082 suspected sepsis patients identified, the mean patient age was 72.5 (SD 16.2) years, 50.6% were female, and 23.8% were Black. Median (interquartile range [IQR]) transport interval was 16.5 (10.9–23.2) minutes. Of identified patients, 1,920 (47.0%) had IV fluid therapy attempted, and IV access was successful in 1,872 (45.9%). Of those with IV access, 1,061 (56.7%) received ≥500mL of fluid from EMS. In adjusted analyses, female (versus male) sex (odds ratio [OR] 0.79, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.69–0.90), Black (versus White) race (OR 0.57, 95% CI 0.49–0.68), and end stage renal disease (OR 0.51, 95% CI 0.32–0.82) were negatively associated with attempted IV therapy. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) <90 mmHg (OR 3.89, 95% CI 3.25–4.65) and respiratory rate >20 (OR 1.90, 95% CI 1.61–2.23) were positively associated with attempted IV therapy. Female sex (OR 0.72, 95% CI 0.59–0.88) and congestive heart failure (CHF) (OR 0.55, 95% CI 0.40–0.75) were negatively associated with receiving goal fluid volume while SBP <90 mmHg (OR 2.30, 95% CI 1.83–2.88) and abnormal temperature (>100.4 F or <96 F) (OR 1.41, 95% CI 1.16–1.73) were positively associated.

Conclusions

Fewer than half of EMS sepsis patients had IV therapy attempted, and of those, approximately half met fluid volume goal, especially when hypotensive and no CHF. Further studies are needed on improving EMS sepsis training and prehospital fluid delivery.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).