Widely used early warning score may help guide the urgency of antibiotic treatment for suspected sepsis
A study of nearly 100,000 adults treated for suspected infection suggests that the National Early Warning Score (NEWS2), a score based on routinely collected vital signs that is widely used to identify patients at risk of clinical deterioration, may help clinicians identify which patients are most likely to benefit from immediate antibiotic treatment and which may safely undergo further…
A study of nearly 100,000 adults treated for suspected infection found that the National Early Warning Score (NEWS2) may help determine which patients most likely benefit from immediate antibiotic treatment for sepsis. NEWS2, a score based on routine vital signs, is widely used in health care systems worldwide, including the UK, to guide antibiotic urgency in suspected sepsis.
The study, led by Harvard Medical School researchers, analyzed electronic health record data from patients between 2015 and 2024. They discovered that antibiotic delays were associated with increased mortality in patients with NEWS2 scores of 7 or higher, even among those without septic shock. However, earlier antibiotic administration showed no survival benefit at lower NEWS2 scores.
The research suggests that NEWS2 could provide an objective way to identify patients who may benefit from immediate antibiotics, using a simple bedside score already in use in clinical practice. The study, published in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine, cannot prove causality but highlights the potential of NEWS2 to balance timely treatment with diagnostic uncertainty in sepsis care.
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