Optimal outcomes and efficiencies for emergency department patients with sepsis and soft tissue infections through research, advocacy, education, and knowledge translation.

• Initiation of RCT of C-reactive protein as screening tool for blood cultures in patients with sepsis
• Retrospective identification of biochemical and demographic markers for high-risk sepsis patients
• Development of best practices document for the treatment of skin and soft tissue infections
• Partnering with BC Patient Safety & Quality Council for improvement in sepsis care across British Columbia

• Refine the criteria used to obtain blood cultures in emergency department patients with sepsis
• Identify “low-risk sepsis patients” in whom blood cultures are not necessary, thus saving the health care system money
• Investigate the role of biomarkers in patients with sepsis and use these in a risk stratification score
• Strengthen partnerships with the BC Patient Safety & Quality Council the Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians (CAEP) Critical Care Committee in the development of a cohesive strategy of evidence-based care for patients with sepsis and septic shock through knowledge generation, knowledge translation, and evaluation
• Build on existing relationships with the BC Ministry of Health Services/BC CDC and BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS to establish policy on point of care testing for HIV for all emergency department patients, and rapid linkage to care for patients found to be positive
• Develop a strategy for routine testing for hepatitis C in the emergency department
• Partner with industry and the BC Ministry of Health Services to develop a program of research on resistant bacteria (MRSA) and skin and soft tissue infections in the Emergency Department
• Design research studies to identify high-risk patients with infections and sepsis in the Emergency Department
• Continue to enroll patients in an open label, industry- sponsored trial of a reversal agent for patients with life threatening bleeding on dabigatran (a newer non-vitamin K antagonist anticoagulant)

• To ensure that patients with infections in emergency departments across BC receive timely and optimal evidence-based care
• To establish our province as a leader in research and knowledge translation in this area