Rhode Island House Calls For Statewide Sepsis Protocols

The Rhode Island House of Representatives passed a resolution on Tuesday that calls for the Department of Health to develop statewide sepsis protocols. The resolution was supported by the families of three children who died after developing the condition in recent years.

Sepsis is happens when a person's body has an extreme reaction to an infection, which can cause damage to organs. The chances of death increase the longer the condition is left untreated, which allows it to become more severe or to develop into septic shock.

The legislation was introduced by House Majority Leader K. Joseph Shekarchi (D-Dist. 23, Warwick) after hearing the stories of children who died from the condition.

"Sepsis moves quickly. In many cases, a person, especially children, may be perfectly healthy until they develop an infection. If that infection leads to sepsis, they could be gone in a matter of a few days. The first signs can be difficult to diagnose, but catching it early is critical to saving live," Leader Skerachi said in a statement. "Our state needs to make sure that there’s a strong set of procedures to follow that help health professionals identify sepsis at its first signs, and to make sure people with it receive the most effective treatment immediately."

Three families testified in the resolution's favor at a committee hearing in early April. Five-year-old Layla Charette, 10-year-old Emily Halloran Otrando, both of Cumberland, and 17-year-old Gianna Cirella all died after developing sepsis.

Charette's case began as most childhood illnesses do when she developed a fever in 2017. Her doctor recommended fluids, over-the-counter medication and rest. She was rushed to the hospital less than a day later after her fever increased dramatically, she became incoherent and started vomiting. She died in the hospital just two days later.

Similarly, Halloran Otrando was otherwise healthy in 2014 when she began to have trouble breathing. She died less than 24 hours later from sepsis that developed as a result of enterovirus.

Cirella, meanwhile, was a star soccer player at Toll Gate High School and also otherwise healthy when she developed a sore throat in 2017. She was treated with antibiotics and saw several different doctors before developing sepsis and dying in the hospital 16 days later.

At the committee meeting, the parents of the three girls all said they believed statewide protocols would help doctors identify and begin treatment of sepsis sooner, before patients are taken to the hospital.

Because it is a resolution rather than a law, the legislation does not need the approval of the Senate. It calls for the Rhode Island Department of Health to develop the statewide, evidence-based protocols.

A 2018 study from Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services reported that just 40 percent of sepsis patients receive the correct treatment. The condition is the most common cause of death of children in hospitals both in Rhode Island and across the country.