Acupuncture for people at high risk for sepsis

Acupuncture to Improve Outcomes in Sepsis Patient: The ACTIONS Trial

Phase 2 Interventional Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center · NCT06344819

This study is testing if real acupuncture can help people at high risk for sepsis recover better than sham acupuncture.

Quick facts

PhasePhase 2
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment78 (estimated)
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorMemorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Academic / other
Locations1 site (New York, New York)
Trial IDNCT06344819 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This study investigates whether acupuncture can improve outcomes for individuals at high risk for sepsis compared to sham acupuncture. Participants will receive either real acupuncture, which targets specific sites on the body, or sham acupuncture, which uses different needles and targets different sites. The study aims to determine the efficacy of acupuncture in enhancing recovery and outcomes in sepsis patients based on previous laboratory and clinical findings.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults aged 18 or older who have had a sepsis order set placed within the previous 48 hours.

Not a fit: Patients who are not septic, admitted to the ICU prior to consent, or have certain medical devices may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this study could provide a novel adjunctive treatment option for improving outcomes in patients at high risk for sepsis.

How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have suggested potential benefits of acupuncture in sepsis, but this specific approach is being tested for the first time in this context.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Age 18 or older
* Having MSK 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).

Where this trial is running

New York, New York

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions SepsissepsisacupunctureMemorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center24-062
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.