Sepsis

see also Dr. Anand Kumar

Question pertains to the utilization of the sepsis codes:

Septic Shock

Severe Sepsis

Septicemia

• All three have specific guidelines in the code book, when and if data collector interperates these incorrectly and codes Severe sepsis rather than Septic shock, or Septecemia instead of either Septic shock, or Severe sepsis, What are the ramifications to the data base and subsequent research studies. --JHutton 13:18, 5 May 2009 (CDT)
  • question forwarded on to Bruce Light and Anand Kumar May 27.09.TOstryzniuk 14:41, 28 May 2009 (CDT)

• FROM DR. KUMAR:
  • Re sepsis codes..there are ramifications but at least if they are in there, we can find them.
  • remember, septic shock (ie sepsis with shock) is the priority code if present. Then severe sepsis (sepsis with organ failure other than shock). You can only use one or the other, not both.

• • Septicemia only means positive blood cultures. So it can be used with either other sepsis diagnosis (severe sepsis, septic shock)or with other infections (urosepsis, pneumonia, etc.). This confusion is why I’d originally suggested using the term bacteremia/fungemia instead of septicemia.TOstryzniuk 17:19, 1 June 2009 (CDT)