Medical Notes

A group of maternity nurses who have sought to raise awareness of sepsis in pregnancy have won an award for innovation in medicine.

The nurses from Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda picked up an Astellas award at the Royal College of Physicians on Friday. They started a sepsis awareness campaign in June 2011, long before the tragic death of Savita Halappanavar brought the issue of sepsis in pregnancy to the fore.

They decided to act because of the rise in sepsis infection as a result of hospital-acquired infections. They gave presentations to both midwifery and medical staff highlighting these findings.

Posters on the signs and symptoms of sepsis, phases of sepsis and the organisms most seen in pregnancy were displayed in every area of the maternity unit.

“Sepsis was clearly not understood and there was a need to raise awareness,” said midwifery practice development co-ordinator Miriam Kelly. The project has since been rolled out hospital wide.