The role of sepsis screening, SIRS and qSOFA in head and neck infections: An audit of 104 patients

Abstract

Sepsis is associated with high morbidity and mortality and is a known complication of infections of the head and neck. Screening for sepsis should be conducted on admission in order to identify patients at risk and provide early intervention. Compliance with sepsis screening was poor on an ENT ward in a district general hospital, however this can be improved further by education and visual reminders such as poster or a clerking proforma. The most common head and neck infections admitted to a district general hospital were tonsillitis, peritonsillar cellulitis and peritonsillar abscesses. The incidence of sepsis as a complication of head and neck infections is very rare if using the qSOFA criteria. Using SIRS criteria may result in overidentification of sepsis and may lead to excessive and inappropriate clinical management in patients who could otherwise be managed less aggressively.