Counting the cost of major infection and sepsis in New Zealand: an exploratory study using the National Minimum Data Set.

Aim: To explore the population-at-risk and potential cost of a sepsis episode in New Zealand.

Method: Retrospective analysis of the National Minimum Data Set using two code-based algorithms selecting (i) an inclusive cohort of hospitalised patients diagnosed with a 'major infection' with the potential to cause sepsis and (ii) a restricted subset of these patients with a high likelihood of clinical sepsis based on the presence of both a primary admission diagnosis of infection and at least one sepsis-associated organ failure.

Results: In 2016, 24% of all inpatient episodes were associated with diagnosis of a major infection.