Development and external validation of a new clinical prediction model for early recognition of sepsis

The inclusion of criteria selected only the sickest of patients in the article by Loots et al,¹ with 42% ultimately being diagnosed with sepsis. The inclusion criteria were: ‘Acutely ill adult (≥18 years) patients with fever, confusion, general deterioration, or otherwise suspected severe infection were eligible for inclusion.’ The exclusion of respiratory rate as ‘less feasible for GPs to perform’ merits further consideration of the wider implications.

The title of this article may be misleading: the presumptive diagnosis of sepsis in a confused, feverish adult with ‘suspected severe infection’ is not an ‘early’ diagnosis. The title might be amended to ‘… a new clinical prediction model for accurate recognition of sepsis in housebound seriously ill adults’. The applicability and validity of this scoring model in ‘routine GP out-of-hours’ is unproven.

• © British Journal of General Practice 2022