LOW-DOSE STEROID ADMINISTRATION

Definition

Low-dose steroids* have been shown to prolong survival in patients with refractory shock in some clinical trials. There may also be a mortality benefit to low-dose steroid administration.

Compliance with this management bundle element is defined as the percent of patients with septic shock for whom low-dose steroids were administered in accordance with a standardized ICU policy within 24 hours following the time of presentation.

Note: It is possible that the standardized ICU policy that governs steroid administration concludes that steroids should not be given in a particular case. In that case, simply assign credit for the steroid policy as if it had been followed.

Numerator	Number of patients with septic shock for whom low-dose steroids were administered in accordance with a standardized ICU policy within 24 hours following  the time of presentation
Denominator	Total number of patients with septic shock.

 

*Low-dose steroids refer to a daily dose of 200 to 300 mg of hydrocortisone or equivalent.  

Goal

Increase administration of low-dose steroids in accordance with a standardized ICU policy to 100 percent of indicated septic shock cases.

Sample Graph

 Aim: Reduce sepsis mortality

 

Sample Graph

Use IHI's Improvement Tracker to enter, save, and graph your team's data.

Related Changes

Administer Low-Dose Steroids by a Standard Policy