Medical Minute: CDC Sounds Alarm On Sepsis In Hospitals

The CDC is sounding the alarm on sepsis in hospitals and is issuing new guidelines to improve outcomes for patients.

At least 1.7 million adults in the U.S. develop sepsis, and one in three people who dies in a hospital had sepsis during their stay.

When Alice Tapper was 14-years-old, she was hospitalized with a case of appendicitis. But doctors misdiagnosed it as a viral infection.

"They weren't worried. They were treating me like I was a little bit dramatic when my body was slowing shutting down and my organs were failing," Alice recalled.

The appendicitis had led to sepsis, a life-threatening infection that spreads rapidly throughout the body.

Her parents, Jennifer and news anchor Jake Tapper, saw their daughter slipping away.

"We were very close to the end," Jennifer said.

Dr. Raymund Dantes is a medical advisor for the CDC, which found while 73-percent of U.S. hospitals have sepsis teams, only about half provide dedicated time for leaders to manage those programs.

"We want to improve outcomes and long-term recovery for patients with sepsis," Dr. Dantes said.

So does Alice. She and her mom joined the CDC to announce "sepsis core elements," to help hospitals ramp up care.

"CDC believes sepsis programs in every hospital regardless of size, location and resources, can strengthen the quality of care delivered to these patients and ensure their survival," said Dr. Mandy Cohen, CDC Director.

Alice's recovery took months and multiple antibiotics.

"I had to learn how to walk again basically, because I was so weak and exhausted," Alice said.

Now, she's strong. Her family wants others to know about sepsis.

"It's an alarm bell for the whole country: just be aware. You don't need to get this sick," Jennifer said.