Researchers create first US map that pinpoints hotspots for infection and sepsis related-deaths

First map of its kind reveals key areas for additional research and support services

In the past, researchers have sought to determine the geographic distribution of many life-threatening conditions, including stroke and cardiac arrest. Now, researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania have created the first U.S. map that pinpoints hotspots for infection and severe sepsis related-deaths - with notable clusters located in the Midwest, mid-Atlantic, and the South. The research is a critical first step in helping to determine which areas of the country require vital public health resources to fight these deadly diseases. The new research will be presented at the annual meeting of Society for Academic Emergency Medicine in Atlanta, Ga.

"Infection-related deaths are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the U.S., affecting over 1 million people a year, and costing $17 billion annually," said lead study author David Gaieski, MD, an associate professor of Emergency Medicine at Penn. "And while our understanding of the causes of infection-related death rates has improved, we are still struggling to prevent these diseases and indentify individuals who are most susceptible. We need to be able to pinpoint the geographic distribution of infection-related death rates in order to further study how and why these infections are happening in these areas and the best methods to prevent these deaths."

Sepsis is the tenth leading cause of death in the United States. With an estimated 750,000 cases annually and a nearly 40 percent mortality rate, severe sepsis is also one of the most common causes of death in hospital critical care units.

To better understand what areas of the country are most at risk for severe sepsis and other infection-related deaths, the research team collected U.S. county death data from the 2010 Multiple Cause of Death data files (compiled by the National Center for Health Statistics) and combined it with 2010 Area Resource File demographic data for a comprehensive view of national variations. The authors note that previous research had only been able to identify potential trends on a state level.

Infection-related deaths were identified using ICD-10 primary cause of death codes for infection and severe sepsis. "Hotspots" were defined as regions where the infection death rate was significantly higher than the national mean and surrounding counties. The analysis revealed four hotspots: 1) two regions that had three times the national mean of infection-related deaths located across the Midwest and mid-Atlantic and 2) two regions that had four times the national death rate from severe sepsis, located in the South and mid-Atlantic.

In addition to the hotspots, the research team also indentified one "coolspot" cluster, an area that had disproportionately low rates of deaths caused by these infections. The coolspot cluster consisted of 157 counties located across the Southwest and Mountain states. The research team notes that these "coolspot" counties might yield important insights as well, including particular screening and treatment protocols that may be in place in these areas.

"This analysis may help target focused geographical interventions to improve the dissemination and implementation of evidence-based care," said senior study author Brendan G. Carr, MD, MA, assistant professor of Emergency Medicine, Surgery, & Epidemiology at Penn. "Further study is required to clarify the geographic variability we observed, but we believe this new resource will be a helpful tool for researchers and public health officials."