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Delayed recognition and treatment of sepsis increases mortality, but it's not so clear whether broad mandates to accelerate treatment have a net patient benefit (NEJM JW Emerg Med Sep 2018 and N Engl J Med 2019 Apr 4; 380:1369). Swedish authors tested whether a system of “sepsis alerts” could improve time to antibiotic administration and mortality. They compared two 3-month periods — 1 year before and after the alerts were implemented in 2016 — in eight emergency departments (EDs). Sepsis alerts were applied only to patients with significantly abnormal vital signs and fever or chills; these patients were triaged to a dedicated category and were immediately seen by an emergency physician and an infectious disease specialist. Patients with tr…