The Baseline African Sepsis Incidence Survey (BASIS)

The Baseline African Sepsis Incidence Survey (BASIS) is a study carried out at health facilities within 10 countries in sub-Saharan Africa, to better understand the burden of sepsis in Africa and better characterise case definitions.

The study will initiate a multi-country, short period observational study of sepsis related admissions in African hospitals. The study will:

a) provide an incidence and point-prevalence estimate of community-acquired sepsis in each of the 10 selected countries;

b) collect data to inform evaluation of existing sepsis definitions and

c) describe capability of sites to identify and treat sepsis.

The aims are the study are:

Estimate incidence of sepsis among non-pregnant adults in sub-Saharan Africa utilizing prevalence and catchment area data from Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Malawi, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and Uganda

Assess in-hospital mortality (censored at 2 weeks) and length of hospitalisation among non-pregnant adults with sepsis in sub-Saharan Africa

Describe variation in prevalence and incidence estimates of sepsis in non-pregnant adults within Africa when applying different available sepsis definitions

Assess the resources available and the burden of clinical work in hospitals providing care to patients with sepsis