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The early detection and treatment of sepsis is exceedingly important. So let's start off with the definition of sepsis:
Sepsis is any type of infection that is in your body that causes an infection where the germs enter the person's body and multiply causing illness, organ failure and/or tissue damage.
Anyone can get sepsis, and bad outcomes can be at higher risk in certain demographics: people with weakened immune systems, babies, very young children, elderly people, people with chronic illnesses such as diabetes, AIDS, cancer and kidney or liver disease and people suffering from severe burns or wounds.
The symptoms of sepsis are not one single sign or symptom, rather a mixture of symptoms. Since sepsis is the result of an infection, symptoms can also be vague and difficult to pin point. Some of these symptoms include diarrhea, vomiting and/or sore throat. Other symptoms may include the following: sleepiness, lethargy, tachycardia, dyspnea (difficult or labored breathing), low BP, fever, severe pain, generalized pain, urinary tract infections, pneumonia, wound infections, pallor, rash or skin discolorations.
The symptoms of sepsis are so diverse that doctors will diagnose sepsis using a number of physical findings like fever, increased heart rate and increased breathing rate and will also look at lab results to check for signs of infection. As many of the symptoms of substance such as fever and difficulty breathing are the same as in other conditions, diagnosis of sepsis is very difficult in the early stages.
Because it's difficult to diagnose early on, by the time it is confirmed treatment must then be delivered to the patient in the hospital. Doctors will treat with antibiotics as soon as possible which help to treat the infection (often associated with pneumonia or urinary tract infections). IV fluids are provided in order to maintain normal blood oxygen levels and blood pressure. Other types of treatments will also be utilized such as oxygen, nebulizer treatments. In some cases kidney dialysis may be necessary.
Long term effects of sepsis can range in severity. For patients who already have kidney problems for example, sepsis can lead to kidney failure and may require lifelong dialysis treatments.
Preventing sepsis starts with simple things such as hand washing, vaccinations for flu and pneumonia, and educating yourself about the transmission of infection both in yourself and as well as other people around you. Infection control is the key to prevention.
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