Adult sepsis pathways
Sepsis should be considered in any setting where patients present with an acute illness or display acute clinical deterioration. Adult sepsis pathways help guide the appropriate recognition and treatment for sepsis and have been shown to improve adult patient outcomes.
The use of sepsis pathways as clinical decision support tools aligns with the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care Sepsis Clinical Care Standard quality statements ensuring time-critical management of sepsis.
Adult or paediatric pathway?
Use an adult pathway for patients 18 years of age and older.
For patients aged 16-18 years, either a paediatric or adult sepsis pathway can be used at the discretion of the treating clinician and local guidelines.
All sepsis pathways listed on this webpage are for use with adults.
For the paediatric sepsis pathway see Children’s Health Queensland.
Adult Sepsis Pathway
In December 2024, Clinical Excellence Queensland released a single Adult Sepsis Pathway for use in Queensland Health clinical settings, including emergency departments, inpatient departments, rural and remote, and maternity settings. The new Adult Sepsis Pathway replaces the previous versions for use in specific clinical areas. It includes essential elements from the previous pathway versions (for emergency department, tertiary and secondary, inpatient, and rural and remote settings), with the addition of maternity elements.
The new Adult Sepsis Pathway is available with or without antimicrobial prescribing and administration guidelines and includes four options which are available to order on WINC®.
Form name | Version | Statewide barcode number | WINC code | Number of forms per pack |
---|---|---|---|---|
2 | SW1282 | 1NY44187 | 100 | |
Adult Sepsis Pathway - Low MRSA Non-tropical with antimicrobial guideline | 2 | SW1283 | 1NY44188 | 100 |
Adult Sepsis Pathway - High MRSA Non-tropical with antimicrobial guideline | 2 | SW1284 | 1NY44189 | 100 |
Adult Sepsis Pathway - High MRSA Tropical with antimicrobial guideline | 2 | SW1285 | 1NY44190 | 100 |
Use the Adult Sepsis Pathway Flowchart (PDF 128 kB), which includes WINC® order codes, to identify the most appropriate pathway version for your facility.
Note: The eight previous versions of the Adult Sepsis Pathway are still available to order on WINC®, but will be discontinued in early 2025, or when stock is depleted. See below for previous pathway information, See links to WINC® order codes here.
Antimicrobial Guidelines
The region-specific antimicrobial prescribing and administration guidelines have been developed to reflect local epidemiology of antimicrobial-resistant infections in three different regions of Queensland, in accordance with the Australian Therapeutic Guidelines. They include guidance for tropical (north of Mackay) and non-tropical regions and low and high MRSA regions across Queensland.
Staff Education Resources
Why use the sepsis pathway clinician factsheet (PDF 511 kB)
Provides background on the development of the sepsis pathway and links to key relevant documents.
How to use the adult sepsis pathway clinician factsheet (PDF 420 kB)
Provides concise explanation about the steps within the pathway and its intended use.
Due for release late December - How to use the Adult Sepsis Pathway (video).
Adult Sepsis Clinical Lanyard – A handy prompt for staff to identify and screen for sepsis (WINC® 1NY43802, statewide order number SW1254)
Online eLearning Modules – (iLearn login required)
- Sepsis 101 Sepsis – Adult ED online eLearning Module - for all staff prior to using the pathway.
- Medical inpatient case study Sepsis – Adult online eLearning Module - for all staff working in inpatient settings.
- Surgical inpatient case study Sepsis – Adult online eLearning Module - for all staff working in surgical inpatient settings.
- Emergency department case study Sepsis – Adult online eLearning Module - for all staff working in the emergency department.
- Maternity case study – under development 2025
Resources for patients, families or carers
Online patient information about the signs and symptoms of sepsis is available here: Adult sepsis | Health and wellbeing | Queensland Government (www.qld.gov.au)
Patient Information Sheet (WINC® code 1NY37712) - for patients who have presented with an infection but do not have sepsis. This consumer information factsheet outlines the signs and symptoms of sepsis, provides information on how to prevent sepsis and instructions on what to do if symptoms deteriorate.
This information is important for high-risk community groups including:
- newborns and young children (see Children's Health Queensland)
- people with poor immune systems
- older people
- people who are pregnant or have just given birth
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
- people treated for cancer with chemotherapy
- people with complex health conditions
- people with burns, wounds or injuries
- people with COVID-19
- people previously been diagnosed with sepsis.
Digital Sepsis Pathway
The Digital Sepsis Pathway Project to uplift the Adult Sepsis Pathway to the digital electronic medical record (ieMR) commenced in May 2024. Led by eHealth Queensland in partnership with Oracle Cerner and Clinical Excellence Queensland. This project aligns with the paper pathway amalgamation and is due for completion mid-2025.
For more information about the adult sepsis pathway, email Sepsis@health.qld.gov.au.
Adult Sepsis Primary Healthcare Screening Tool
The Adult Sepsis Primary Healthcare Screening Tool available for use by general practice doctors and nurses screening adults 16 years and over for sepsis.
For more GP resources visit the Sepsis Primary Healthcare Engagement website.