• S Tafelski, I Nachtigall, M Deja, A Tamarkin, T Trefzer, E Halle, K D Wernecke, and C Spies.
• Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, Charité-Universitaetsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
• J. Int. Med. Res. 2010 Sep 1;38(5):1605-16.

AbstractComputer-assisted decision support systems (CDSS) are designed to improve infection management. The aim of this prospective, clinical pre- and post-intervention study was to investigate the influence of CDSS on infection management of severe sepsis and septic shock in intensive care units (ICUs). Data were collected for a total of 180 days during two study periods in 2006 and 2007. Of the 186 patients with severe sepsis or septic shock, 62 were stratified into a low adherence to infection management standards group (LAG) and 124 were stratified into a high adherence group (HAG). ICU mortality was significantly increased in LAG versus HAG patients (Kaplan-Meier analysis). Following CDSS implementation, adherence to standards increased significantly by 35%, paralleled with improved diagnostics, more antibiotic-free days and a shortened time until antibiotics were administered. In conclusion, adherence to infection standards is beneficial for patients with severe sepsis or septic shock and CDSS is a useful tool to aid adherence.

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