By Michelle Wade, APRN
Michelle Wade, APRN
As a hospitalist at Gifford Medical Center, I see patients, at least weekly, who are septic, but many patients and their families have trouble understanding the condition. Since September is Sepsis Awareness Month, I thought I would share a bit about sepsis.
What is sepsis?
Basically, sepsis occurs when an infection overwhelms the body’s defenses, resulting in organ injury. Infections, which are caused by bacteria, viruses and fungi, are normally contained by the body’s immune system. When the body first detects an infection, the white blood cells, which are the cells in our blood that fight infections, release chemical signals that raise our temperature, increase blood flow, call for more white blood cells, and release antibodies and destroy infection particles, or pathogens. This response normally causes low-grade fevers (below 103 degrees Fahrenheit in adults), redness, swelling, and pain.
In sepsis, this response is not enough to control the infection, which can spread and lead to organ injury. Organ injury is defined as injury to any body system—heart, lungs, intestinal tract, kidneys, and liver, to name a few. Symptoms can include low oxygen levels, fast heart rates, very high fevers, low blood pressure, low urine output, confusion, and disorientation. If untreated, organ injury may lead to organ failure, shock, and, in some cases, death.
Symptoms of Sepsis
- Fever and chills
- Very low body temperature
- Urinating less than normal
- Rapid pulse
- Rapid breathing
- Nausea and vomiting
- Diarrhea
How can I lower my risk of getting sepsis?
In most people with healthy immune systems, the risk of sepsis is low. However, in the very old, the very young, or those with chronic illnesses or impaired immune systems, the risk is significantly higher. The most important thing that we all can do to prevent sepsis is to live a healthy lifestyle free from drugs, excessive alcohol, smoking, and high-sugar foods. We also should exercise regularly, get a good night’s sleep, and stay up-to-date on all recommended vaccinations, especially those for the flu and pneumonia.
Practicing good hand hygiene with either soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizer, especially while interacting in the community, can help further reduce your risk of contracting an infection. While anyone still can develop sepsis, these activities will significantly reduce your risk and may save your life.
What symptoms should I be concerned about?
The most common infections that cause sepsis in our community are pneumonia, both viral, such as influenza, and bacterial; urinary tract infections; skin infections; bloodstream infections, abdominal infections; and tick infections. While the causes of these infections are different, the symptoms of sepsis are often the same and include very high fevers, uncontrollable shaking and chills, confusion or disorientation, extreme lightheadedness that does not fade with time, and inability to breathe. If you or a loved one has these symptoms, it is important to seek medical attention as soon as possible.
How is sepsis treated?
The most critical factor when treating sepsis is to start antibiotics as soon as the condition is identified. A typical evaluation for someone with an infection will include a thorough history and physical exam, vital signs, labs, and imaging such as X-rays. Following this evaluation, patients are often treated with intravenous fluids to support blood pressure and antibiotics to fight the infection. In most cases of sepsis, the initial antibiotics are intravenous and are changed to oral medications when the condition stabilizes. It is very important that patients take the course of antibiotics to its completion as directed by their provider.
Is sepsis contagious?
Some pathogens that cause sepsis are extremely contagious, such as influenza and bacterial infections of the stool. Regular hand hygiene when caring for people with sepsis is very important and will help minimize the spread of the infection. In some respiratory infections, a mask may be required to further prevent the risk of spread. In most cases, this risk is gone following the completion of the prescribed course of antibiotics.
For more information about sepsis, visit sepsis.org, an excellent resource for patients. And, as always, please see your provider for questions specific to your personal health.
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Michelle Wade, APRN, provides inpatient care as part of the hospitalist team at Gifford Medical Center. For more information about inpatient care at Gifford, visit giffordhealthcare.org/service/inpatient-care-hospitalization.
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