Sepsis in patients with vs. without mental illness: a comparison of demographic, insurance, comorbidity, and infection source characteristics

Abstract

Background Adherence to the Surviving Sepsis Campaign’s 3- and 6-hour bundles (blood cultures/serum lactate/antibiotics/IV fluids/vasopressors) improves mortality. Septic patients with mental health illness may not receive optimal care, being unable to explain symptoms, understand/accept their condition/care, or remain calm. We compare characteristics of ED septic patients with vs without mental health illnesses in their demographics, insurance, housing status, comorbidities, and infected organs, part of a larger, retrospective study seeking to compare such patients’ sepsis care quality (bundle adherence, length-of-stay (LOS)).