Sepsis-3 Study in Northeast Thailand (SEPSISIII)

Utility of Sepsis-3 Definition, Causes and Factors Associated With Outcomes in Community-acquired Sepsis in Ubon Ratchathani, Northeast Thailand

This is an observational study to evaluate the utility of the latest recommendation to define severity of infection for sepsis patients (sepsis-3), and to identify the aetiology and factors associated with outcome of community-acquired sepsis in Northeast Thailand.

Potential study participants will be adult patients who are presented at the hospital with community-acquired sepsis. Clinical specimens (including blood, urine, sputum, throat swabs and pus or wound swab) will be collected from each participant on admission for culture, PCR and serological tests, and other laboratory tests. Participants' treatment will be closely monitored during the duration of their hospital stay. Blood will be again collected at 72 hours after admission. Participants will be contacted at 28 days after admission to determine clinical outcome by phone interview with standardized script.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Sepsis; Community-Acquired Infections
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Specimens collection

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 1002

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Thailand
  • Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand, 34000
    • Sappasithiprasong Hospital

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: N/A

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Adult patients, both males and females, presenting with sepsis will be approached for participation in the study.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Males and females 18 years old.
2. Thai nationality.
3. Required hospitalization as decided by the attending physician
4. Documented by attending physician that an infection is the primary cause of illness leading to the hospitalization. These can be infections due to any pathogens (bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites).

5. qSOFA (quick Sepsis-related Organ Failure Assessment) score ≥ 2 defined as 2 or more of the following:

   • Respiratory rate ≥22 /min or required ventilator
   • Alteration of mental status (GCS<15 or 10T with endotracheal tube)
   • Systolic blood pressure ≤100 mm Hg

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Infection is not suspected to be a primary cause of the current illness episode leading to the hospitalization. For example, community-acquired sepsis is considered to be due to stroke, cardiovascular diseases, acute myocardial infarction, cancer, burn, injury, and trauma.
2. Hospitalized at the study site for this current episode for more than 24 hours before enrollment.
3. Hospitalized for this current episode for more than 72 hours at another primary/referring hospital
4. Prior to this current episode, the patient was admitted to any hospital within the last 30 days.
5. Prior to enrolment, it is documented by the attending physician that hospital acquired infection is associated with the cause of sepsis.

Please note that the following conditions are not exclusion criteria, and patients with the following conditions can be enrolled into the study.

• Confirmed diagnosis by any method of an infection as a major cause of illnesses leading to hospitalization. For example, a patient who already has had a definite diagnosis of malarial infection by blood smear.
• Clinical diagnosis of any specific disease or any specific syndromes such as acute infective diarrhea, acute pneumonia, acute encephalomyelitis and acute myocarditis.
• Suspected of having both infectious and non-infectious diseases and infectious disease is a primary cause of illnesses (primary diagnosis) leading to the hospitalization. For example, acute pneumonia with stroke as an underlying disease, etc.
• Patients who are admitted to other hospitals and referred to the study site. For example a referred patient who admit to the first hospital less than 24 hours prior to enrollment.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

1

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort

Intervention / Treatment

Adult patients presenting with sepsis; Adult patients, both males and females, presenting with sepsis will be approached for participation in the study.

Other: Specimens collection; On admission: Blood samples 30.01 mL and other specimens (if available) for culture and other diagnostics tests including sputum, throat swab, urine (midstream urine), and pus which is part of routine practice for patients with sepsis at study site. Day 3: Blood (15 mL) for culture (10 mL) and PCR (5 mL). There will be no blood collection, if patient is discharged before day 3.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
28-day mortality after admission date	2.5 years

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Causative organisms of community-acquired sepsis		2.5 years
Respiration: Blood gas (PaO2 [mmHg])	Clinical parameters evaluated as according to Sepsis-3 guideline; Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA)	2.5 years
Respiration: Type of oxygen support	Clinical parameters evaluated as according to Sepsis-3 guideline; Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA)	2.5 years
Respiration: FiO2 (% )	Clinical parameters evaluated as according to Sepsis-3 guideline; Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA)	2.5 years
Respiration: SpO2 by pulse oximeter level (%)	Clinical parameters evaluated as according to Sepsis-3 guideline; Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA)	2.5 years
Coagulation: Platelet (per μL)	Clinical parameters evaluated as according to Sepsis-3 guideline; Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA)	2.5 years
Liver: Total Bilirubin (mg/dL)	Clinical parameters evaluated as according to Sepsis-3 guideline; Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA)	2.5 years
Cardiovascular: Mean Arterial Pressure (MAP) at enrolment (mmHg)	Clinical parameters evaluated as according to Sepsis-3 guideline; Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA)	2.5 years
Cardiovascular: Dosages (μg/kg/min) of inotropic	Clinical parameters evaluated as according to Sepsis-3 guideline; Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA)	2.5 years
Cardiovascular: Dosages (μg/kg/min) of vasopressor agents	Clinical parameters evaluated as according to Sepsis-3 guideline; Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA)	2.5 years
Central nervous system: Glasgow Coma Score	Clinical parameters evaluated as according to Sepsis-3 guideline; Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA)	2.5 years
Renal: Creatinine (mg/sdL)	Clinical parameters evaluated as according to Sepsis-3 guideline; Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA)	2.5 years
Hematology	Other laboratory measurement	2.5 years
Blood chemistry	Other laboratory measurement	2.5 years
Causes of sepsis associated with mortality outcome in patients with community-acquired sepsis in northeast Thailand		2.5 years
Sepsis resuscitation associated with mortality outcome in patients with community-acquired sepsis in northeast Thailand		2.5 years
Antimicrobial treatment associated with mortality outcome in patients with community-acquired sepsis in northeast Thailand		2.5 years
Inflammatory associated with mortality outcome in patients with community-acquired sepsis in northeast Thailand		2.5 years
Genetics factors with mortality outcome in patients with community-acquired sepsis in northeast Thailand		2.5 years
Diagnostic tests for infection in community-acquired sepsis in NE Thailand		2.5 years

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Oxford
• Collaborators: Sanpasitthiprasong Hospital; Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): February 1, 2018
• Primary Completion (Actual): March 24, 2023
• Study Completion (Actual): March 24, 2023

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: December 4, 2017
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 14, 2017
• First Posted (Actual): December 20, 2017

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimated): January 13, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 9, 2026
• Last Verified: January 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: causes of community-acquired sepsis; diagnostic tests
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pathologic Processes; Infections; Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome; Inflammation; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Sepsis; Community-Acquired Infections
• Other Study ID Numbers: HCR17001

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No