Sepsis is the leading cause of death and the most expensive condition treated in U.S. hospitals. The risk of death from sepsis increases by up to 8% for each hour that treatment is delayed, making early detection critical. Now, a new study has shown that a rapid sepsis diagnostic test can reduce care costs and improve the efficiency of sepsis management at a large academic medical center in the U.S.

The study was conducted by Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center (Baton Rouge, LA, USA) to evaluate Cytovale’s (South San Francisco, CA, USA) IntelliSep test and presented at the International Symposium on Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine Conference. IntelliSep is the first FDA-cleared rapid diagnostic test for sepsis, designed for use in the Emergency Department to identify the dysregulated host response to infection that signals sepsis. The test produces results in approximately 8 minutes from a standard blood draw and can be easily integrated into existing care workflows.

The study, which examined the impact of IntelliSep on sepsis care for patients presenting to the Emergency Department, included 196 control patients and 413 intervention patients at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center. Patients whose care was guided by IntelliSep testing spent less time in the hospital and experienced more efficient triage, resulting in significant cost savings. On average, IntelliSep-informed care resulted in cost savings of USD 3,624 per inpatient admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU), associated with a 2.42-day reduction in average length of stay (LOS) for these patients; USD 1,930 per non-ICU inpatient, with a 1.28-day reduction in average LOS; and USD 243 per observation patient. Overall, the study demonstrated an average cost saving of USD 1,429 per patient across the entire cohort tested with IntelliSep. In addition to these findings, the medical center also reported a decrease in needle sticks and antibiotic exposure for patients, thanks to more accurate sepsis detection.

"IntelliSep is an entirely new way of approaching sepsis detection. It creates the standard for hospitals to rapidly cut through clinical uncertainty and definitively identify sepsis to improve patient care," said Christopher Thomas, M.D., vice president and chief quality officer at Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System and Critical Care Physician at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center. "Roughly 20% of patients entering the ED are at risk for sepsis and delayed diagnosis often leads to lengthy hospital stays and increased use of resources. With IntelliSep, we're able to improve patient centered outcomes and accelerate time to treatment for high-risk patients. The combination of cost savings for our patients, paired with a faster time to return home to their families, is a game changer."

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