An Acupuncture Study for People At High Risk for Sepsis

Acupuncture to Improve Outcomes in Sepsis Patient: The ACTIONS Trial

Researchers think acupuncture may improve outcomes for participants with sepsis, based on laboratory studies and previous studies in people with sepsis. The purpose of this study to see whether real acupuncture can improve outcomes for participants with sepsis when compared to sham acupuncture. Sham acupuncture is performed the same way as real acupuncture but will use different needles and target different sites or places on the body than real acupuncture.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age 18 or older
• Having a sepsis order-set placed within the previous 48 hours

Exclusion Criteria:

• The study Principal Investigator will review the medical record again prior to enrollment to exclude non-sepsis patients (Even though the placement of sepsis order set already screens out such patients, subsequent clinical development after sepsis order set placement may generate new information that deems the patient not septic.)
• Admitted to ICU before being approached for consenting
• Having an implanted medical device, such as a pacemaker or implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD), with which electroacupuncture
• Unable to obtain informed consent due to a participant's mental status and absence of an individual authorized to give consent on the participant's behalf
• The patient is on an interventional clinical trial and its Principal Investigator does not give approval to enrollment to this study (e.g. genomic profiling, biospecimen, or observational studies do not require PI approval).