The authors undertook a rapid review to determine the suitability of sepsis screening tools in the emergency setting with regard to sensitivity and specificity of sepsis diagnosis. The review recognized that there is currently a paucity of evidence in the emergency setting and further research is required.

When compared to other sepsis screening tools, qSOFA has the highest specificity in differentiation between sepsis and non-septic infections and had the highest prediction rates of mortality.

SIRS has a significantly higher sensitivity.

The authors propose that the implementation of a sepsis screening tool is prudent in the emergency setting, however further research is required to recommend, validate, and implement a standardized sepsis screening tool.

In the interim, qSOFA and SIRS may be used in conjunction to avoid practitioner response paralysis in terms of sepsis risk identification.

Read More