NEWS2 versus shock status to stratify antibiotic urgency in patients with suspected sepsis: a retrospective, multicentre cohort study
Authors' conclusion
The NICE-defined high-risk NEWS2 category (scores ≥7) identified patients in whom each additional hour to antibiotic administration was associated with increased mortality, including many without shock, whereas no association was observed for lower NEWS2 scores.
Study context
- Population
- Adults admitted via the EDs of nine Mass General Brigham hospitals (MA, US) treated for suspected infection (blood culture and IV antibiotics within 6 h of ED arrival), 2015–2024
- Exposure
- Shock status vs laboratory-upgraded NEWS2 (NEWS2+) categories to stratify association of antibiotic delay with mortality
- Shockn = 4,867
- NEWS2+ 0n = 9,672
- NEWS2+ 1-4n = 37,310
- NEWS2+ 5-6n = 26,134
- NEWS2+ ≥7n = 26,551
- Outcome
- Hospital mortality per additional hour to antibiotic administration
Methodological detailsmulticentre
- Multicentre
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Hospital mortality per additional hour to antibiotics
Adjusted odds ratio per hour (95% CI)
Shock1.5% absolute increase per hour, 95% CI 0.5-2.4
1.15(1.07–1.25)
No shocknot associated
1.03(1.00–1.05)
NEWS2+ ≥70.5% absolute increase per hour, 95% CI 0.3-0.8
1.07(1.04–1.11)
Each row per its own increment, as printed
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
| Outcome | Values | aOR per hour (CI) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hospital mortality per hour, NEWS2+ ≥7 without shock (subgroup)0.4% absolute increase per hour, 95% CI 0.1-0.6% | NEWS2+ ≥7 without shock 86.3% | 1.05 (1.01–1.09) | |
| 0.512Adjusted odds ratio per hour (log scale) |
Parts of this Brief are withheld: the automatic checks could not confirm them against the abstract.
Original publication
NEWS2 versus shock status to stratify antibiotic urgency in patients with suspected sepsis: a retrospective, multicentre cohort study. Lancet Respir Med. Published 5 August 2026. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →