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®.

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.

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.

How to use the Adult Sepsis Pathway video - A step-by-step guide for clinical staff using the pathway.

Adult Sepsis Clinical Lanyard (PDF 939 kB) - a handy prompt for staff to identify and screen for sepsis (WINC^® 1NY43802, statewide order number SW1254)

Could it be Sepsis? A4 Clinician Poster (PDF 426 kB) (WINC® code 1NY44191) - for display in clinical areas.

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 for 2025

Consumer information

Download posters for display in waiting rooms and other public areas

• Could it be Sepsis? - A4 Consumer Poster (PDF 424 kB) - recommended for out of hospital settings (WINC® code 1NY44193)
• Could it be Sepsis? - A4 Consumer Poster (First Nations version) (PDF 1115 kB) - recommended for out of hospital settings (WINC® code 1NY44192)

Resources for patients, families or carers

Read about patient information about the signs and symptoms of sepsis.

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:

• 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
• newborns and young children (see Children's Health Queensland).

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 (PDF 286 kB) available for use by general practice doctors and nurses screening adults 16 years and over for sepsis.

For more GP resources visit Sepsis Primary Healthcare Engagement.

For more information

For more information on the pathways, please refer to the resources listed here or email sepsis@health.qld.gov.au.