The Miami Beach Fire Department has officially upped the ante in pre-hospital medical care, with a new policy to swiftly, and smartly, administer antibiotics to sepsis patients before they even see the inside of a hospital. This move makes them the first in Miami-Dade County to roll out a protocol that could mean the difference between life and death for those stricken by the often fatal condition. “In Miami Beach, public safety isn’t negotiable — it’s our top priority,” Miami Beach Mayor Steven Meiner said in the statement obtained by Miami Beach’s government.
With sepsis, every minute counts. The malicious condition, which is a body’s overwhelming and life-threatening response to infection, can rapidly lead to tissue damage, organ failure, and death. Miami Beach Fire Chief Digna Abello was quick to point out, “Time is everything when it comes to medical care.” By beginning to give treatment on-scene, paramedics are now potentially able to significantly shorten the time to care, thus improving the survival odds for patients. Chief Abello further underscored, “This initiative not only translates into measurable improvements in patient outcomes but also reflects Miami Beach’s unwavering commitment to providing cutting-edge, evidence-based pre-hospital emergency care to the residents, visitors and guests of our community,” as noted by the press release.
Research backs up the practice, with one Florida EMS study cited by the Miami Beach Fire Department showing a stark decrease in mortality from 15.8% to 6.8% among patients with septic shock who received pre-hospital antibiotics. Moreover, a different study highlighted a reduction of nearly 70% in in-hospital mortality for patients administered antibiotics prior to arrival. Sepsis has a higher mortality rate than heart attacks, strokes, and trauma combined, which is why acting fast on all fronts is a game-changer…