What is sepsis? How to spot, manage and prevent it
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Sunday, April 23, 2023
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Sepsis, a life threatening condition, happens when the body has an excessive immune response to an infection in the blood stream.
Key Points:
- Sepsis, a life threatening condition, happens when the body has an excessive immune response to an infection in the blood stream.
- The Conversation Africa’s Ina Skosana spoke to pathologists from the National Institute of Communicable Diseases about the illness and its impact.
What causes sepsis?
- There are common causes of sepsis.
- Infections of the central nervous system (meningitis) as well as skin and soft tissue (surgical site, wounds or burns) are also common causes of sepsis.
Who is at risk of sepsis?
- But babies up to one month old and people older than 65 years have a higher risk of developing the condition.
- Prolonged hospital stays or admission to an intensive care unit (ICU) can also increase the risk of sepsis.
What are the symptoms of sepsis and septic shock?
Symptoms of sepsis are not specific. These may include one or more of these:
Septic shock is a progression of sepsis. It’s characterised by hypotension (low blood pressure), hypovolaemia (loss of bodily fluids such as water and blood) and organ dysfunction. Patients typically present with extreme confusion or loss of consciousness.
How is sepsis and septic shock diagnosed?
- There are various tests available to diagnose sepsis and septic shock.
- Sepsis and septic shock are clinical syndromes defined by a combination of signs, symptoms, laboratory and physiological abnormalities.
- A variety of clinical variables and tools such as vital signs (heart rate, respiratory rate, temperature and blood pressure), laboratory blood tests (confirmation of infection) and clinical examinations have to be reviewed for sepsis screening.
How is sepsis managed?
- Patients with sepsis need close monitoring and treatment in a hospital ICU.
- Intravenous fluids should be started as soon as possible, preferably within the first three hours of sepsis being identified.
How is sepsis prevented?
- In healthcare facilities prevention of the sepsis include practising appropriate infection prevention and control measures which can reduce infections by 50%.
- Recognising sepsis early and introducing antibiotics treatment early can reduce the likelihood of sepsis progressing to mortality.
- Anyone who has signs and symptoms of sepsis, even when the underlying infection is not apparent, should seek medical care immediately.