According to the Center of Disease Control and Prevention, aka the CDC, 1.7 million adult Americans develop sepsis each year. Of those 1.7 million people, nearly 270 thousand die as a result. This is why identifying and understanding the care and treatment is so important.
What is Sepsis?
The CDC defines sepsis as, “the body’s extreme response to an infection”. One does not simply become septic; they need to already have an infection that has then triggered a much larger response in the body than what is necessary. In other words, not every person with an infection is going to become septic, however you do need to have an infection present to trigger sepsis.
For example, if a patient has an untreated urinary tract infection, aka a UTI, that has spread up their ureters, through their bladder, and into their kidneys, that patient could then develop sepsis. For more information on UTI’s, visit Patient Education: What are Urinary Tract Infections? UTI Prevention and Treatments.
How Dangerous is Sepsis?
Sepsis is extremely dangerous and is considered to be a medical emergency. It can lead to multi-organ involvement and failure. According to the CDC, “without timely treatment, sepsis can rapidly lead to tissue damage, organ failure, and death.”
How to Identify Sepsis
Septic patients are going to present with the typical signs and symptoms of an infection, such as having a fever. However, septic patients will also experience shortness of breath as the lungs become involved, and signs of shock. Including high heart rate, low blood pressure, and disorientation. Most septic patients will also be clammy and have extreme pain or discomfort originating from their infected area.
Treatment
The most effective treatment for septic patients is antibiotics that are given around the clock. The antibiotics are typically given intravenously to increase the efficacy. Because of this and because it is a medical emergency, the patient is going to be admitted to the hospital if they aren’t already.
Prevention
Other than preventing infection in the first place, seeking treatment for the primary infection is the main preventative treatment for sepsis. The doctor will run some tests to find the most appropriate antibiotic to prescribe. The patient must take all of the prescribed antibiotic. This is extremely important to educate patients on as some will stop taking the antibiotic once they begin to feel better. And as a result the infection will not completely resolve, which we know can lead to sepsis.
For more information, visit Nursing Fundamentals: A Guide to Infection Control.
Patient Education
On top of educating patients on the importance of completing their prescribed antibiotics, it is also important to teach any patient with an infection or a potential for infection (such as after surgery or those with a wound) the signs and symptoms of sepsis. This way they can identify it early and seek treatment. Be sure to remind patients that anyone can become septic secondary to an infection. And always stress the importance of hand hygiene.
The main point to communicate about sepsis is that it is a medical emergency and therefore needs to be treated urgently. Encourage all patients experiencing these signs and symptoms to call their doctor and get to a hospital right away. Quick access to healthcare can be the difference between life and death when identifying and treating sepsis.
Do you treat septic patients? Comment below!
Plus be sure to check out the entire Patient Education Series:
- How to Spot a Stroke and Save a Life
- A Guide to Treating and Managing Type 1 Diabetes
- A Guide to Treating and Managing Type 2 Diabetes
- How to Effectively Manage Acute and Chronic Pain
- What is Hypertension? Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments
- What is Heart Failure? Risk Factors, Symptoms, and Treatments
- What is Asthma? Risk Factors, Symptoms, and Treatments
- What is COPD? Risk Factors, Symptoms, and Treatments
- What is Pneumonia? Symptoms, Labs, and Treatments
Referenced CDC sepsis statistics and information can be found here.