Post-acute and Long-term Care Settings as First Responders for the Surviving Sepsis Campaign

In 2016, the Society of Critical Care launched its Surviving Sepsis Campaign, emphasizing early recognition and management of sepsis.1 Sepsis disproportionately affects older adults, particularly nursing facility residents who, compared to non-nursing facility residents, experience higher rates of intensive care unit admission (40% vs 21%), have a longer hospital length of stay (7 vs 5 days), and have higher in-hospital mortality (37% vs 15%).2 Factors that contribute to an increased risk of adverse outcomes include age-related changes such frailty, immune senescence, alterations in temperature regulation, cognitive decline, and malnutrition.