Efficacy of Early Sepsis Management in ICU Patients: A Multicenter Cohort Study

Thomas Heinemann¹, Jörn M. Schattenberg¹, Thomas Gress², Jan Kielstein³, Philip Wenzel⁴

Abstract

Abstract:
Sepsis remains one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in Intensive Care Units (ICUs) worldwide, accounting for over 48.9 million cases and contributing to substantial healthcare burden globally in 2022. Despite advances in critical care medicine, timely and effective management strategies remain essential for improving clinical outcomes. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of Early Goal-Directed Therapy (EGDT) on survival and resource utilization among septic patients admitted to ICUs. A prospective, multicenter cohort study was conducted across several tertiary hospitals over an 18-month period, involving 1,200 adult patients diagnosed with sepsis based on standardized clinical criteria. Participants were stratified into two groups: those who received EGDT within the first six hours of admission (n=600) and those who received standard care without protocolized early interventions (n=600).

The findings demonstrated a significant reduction in the 28-day all-cause mortality rate among the EGDT group (18.2%) compared to the standard care group (27.5%) (p<0.001). Moreover, patients in the EGDT group experienced a shorter mean ICU length of stay, with a reduction of 3.8 days on average (p=0.002), indicating enhanced recovery and discharge efficiency. Additionally, the requirement for vasopressor support was significantly lower in the EGDT group (39.1%) than in the standard care group (52.4%) (p=0.004), reflecting improved hemodynamic stability. These results underscore the clinical efficacy of early hemodynamic optimization and protocol-based care in reducing septic complications and healthcare resource consumption.

In conclusion, this study highlights that implementing EGDT in the early stages of sepsis management improves patient survival, decreases ICU length of stay, and reduces vasopressor dependency. EGDT as a standard component of sepsis protocols could play a pivotal role in enhancing outcomes and optimizing ICU practices.