New research from the University of Arizona College of Medicine could reduce the number of deaths from sepsis, a life-threatening infection.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports 1.7 million adults are diagnosed with sepsis each year. One in five patients don’t survive.
Now, a new study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine shows that initial blood tests done after antibiotics are given are unreliable, suggesting emergency room doctors delay treatment until after drawing a blood sample.
The Show spoke with the co-author of the study, Murtaza Akhter, an assistant professor of emergency medicine at the University of Arizona College of Medicine — Phoenix. Dr. Akhter is also an attending physician at Maricopa Integrated Health System, now known as Valleywise Health.
