September Synopsis ‒ Sepsis is Serious

Sepsis is your body’s overwhelming response to a serious infection. It can rapidly progress to tissue damage and even stop your organs from working. Sepsis accounts for one-third to one-half of all deaths that occur in U.S. hospitals, trailing only heart disease and cancer.

Sepsis Awareness Month in September was created to better inform the public about this lesser-known ailment ‒ what amounts to immune system overkill ‒ that actually can kill. The life-threatening blood infection can affect anyone, but it's more likely to occur in people:

• with weakened immune systems
• older than 65 years old, newborns and infants, or pregnant
• with medical conditions such as diabetes, obesity, cancer, and kidney disease
• with invasive procedures like surgery
• in the hospital for other medical reasons
• with severe injuries, such as large burns or wounds
• with catheters, IVs, or breathing tubes

One common misperception about sepsis is that people often get it while hospitalized. While that can be the case, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate that more than 87% of sepsis cases begin before a patient is admitted to the hospital.

The most important data points you need to know about sepsis, according to the CDC and numerous other health experts, are prevention, early detection, and timely treatment. Those three elements are key to avoiding or surviving sepsis, and knowing how to achieve them is one of the central purposes of Sepsis Awareness Month.

Prevention

Sepsis itself isn’t contagious and cannot be spread from one person to another. But people can spread the infections that can cause sepsis. The steps you can take to prevent sepsis are similar to steps you would take to prevent getting or spreading an infection. These include:

• Practicing good hygiene, including handwashing
• Keeping cuts and other wounds clean, and keeping them covered until healed
• Keeping up to date on recommended vaccines
• Getting routine medical care for chronic conditions
• Getting medical attention immediately if you suspect an infection

Early Detection

If sepsis is not detected early, it won’t be treated early. That can be life-threatening.

Recognizing early symptoms is crucial, as prompt treatment significantly improves outcomes. Common signs of sepsis include fever, chills, rapid breathing (or shortness of breath), elevated heart rate, confusion, and severe discomfort. Other symptoms can include low energy or weakness, low blood pressure, urinary issues, or a “sepsis rash” that makes your skin appear red or discolored.

If these symptoms occur, especially in individuals with predisposing conditions such as diabetes, cancer, weakened immune systems, or recent surgeries, immediate medical attention is recommended.

Timely Treatment

If sepsis is not treated early, it can turn into septic shock and cause your organs to fail. More than 30% of patients who suffer septic shock do not survive.

Sepsis treatment needs to begin immediately. If your provider diagnoses you with sepsis, you will likely be placed in the intensive care unit (ICU) of the hospital for special care. You may receive the following treatments:

• Antibiotics if the underlying cause is a bacterial infection
• IV (intravenous) fluids to maintain blood flow to your organs and prevent your blood pressure from dropping too low
• Vasopressor medications to tighten blood vessels (may be needed to help you reach an adequate blood pressure)
• Appropriate supportive care (if organ failure) such as dialysis for kidney failure or mechanical ventilation for respiratory failure
• Surgery, if needed, to remove damaged tissue

Sepsis treatment and recovery can require hospitalization for several weeks. As this September awareness month seeks to convey, sepsis is serious. Delays in diagnoses and treatment caused by a lack of knowledge or awareness can be extremely detrimental to your health.

If you fit the predispositions listed above that make you susceptible to sepsis ‒ and suffer from any of the symptoms of sepsis ‒ come to the Andalusia Health emergency department immediately or call 9-1-1.