Sepsis is number one on several fronts, but none of them are positive. The condition is the leading cause of death in hospitals, the No. 1 reason behind hospital readmissions and the top driver of health care costs.
As we mark Sepsis Awareness Month, we’re spreading the word about a health threat that affects 1.7 million people and claims 350,000 adult lives in the U.S. every year.
Sepsis Key Facts
Sepsis is the body’s overwhelming reaction to an existing infection. It can cascade into life-threatening symptoms, including tissue and organ damage that can lead to death, says Dr. Melanie Rohloff, a Family Medicine Physician with ThedaCare Urgent Care-Appleton.
Sepsis is a medical emergency. A sepsis patient is at higher risk for death than from other more commonly known medical emergencies — including heart attacks or strokes.
Many kinds of infections can trigger sepsis. Some of the most common are pneumonia, urinary tract infections (UTIs), and severe wounds and burns. It’s important to understand that sepsis can happen rapidly.
“I’ve seen patients become very ill when there is a delay starting appropriate medical treatment, even by hours — it can happen that quickly,” Dr. Rohloff says.
Signs and Risk Factors
In the onset of sepsis, people may experience several symptoms. These can include:
- Fast heartrate
- Low blood pressure
- Fever or a low body temperature
- Shaking chills
- Symptoms specific to the type of infection, such as painful urination from a UTI or worsening cough from pneumonia
Septic shock symptoms include:
- Inability to stand up
- Strong sleepiness or difficulty staying awake
- Major change in mental status, such as extreme confusion
Certain groups of people are especially susceptible to sepsis. These include:
- Children younger than 1 year old
- Individuals ages 65 and older
- Pregnant people
- Those who have a weakened immune system (such as people with cancer or HIV)
- Individuals with medical conditions like diabetes, lung disorders and kidney disease
- People with a recent severe illness or hospitalization
In addition, people who have indwelling medical devices such as catheters, PICC lines and ports must be very careful about infections, Dr. Rohloff says.
Identifying Sepsis
At ThedaCare, physicians, advanced practice clinicians and care teams use protocols called Rapid Recognition and Quick Bedside Analysis to investigate infections that may be evolving into sepsis cases.
There are no strict criteria to diagnose sepsis aside from a combination of physical exam findings, lab tests and patient reports. This has led researchers to begin experimenting with the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to help diagnose sepsis.
Dr. Rohloff says one other approach has shown real promise: providers, nurses, support staff and patients working together to consider the possible onset of sepsis. For example, ThedaCare is piloting a program to teach wound care patients to stop and evaluate any changes to their condition on a daily basis.
“That vigilance and that ongoing conversation brings small changes to light,” Dr. Rohloff says. “If something feels even a little off, that’s the information we need. It’s not a time to wait and see what happens. We need to know about a change in condition right away.”
Prevention is Key
The best way to prevent sepsis is to prevent infections, Dr. Rohloff stresses. This means staying up to date on vaccinations, controlling chronic health conditions, and carefully cleaning wounds and your hands well and often.
“Not every infection leads to sepsis,” Dr. Rohloff concludes. “I do not want to cause unnecessary alarm. But if you are in one of the more susceptible groups, you need to watch any infections very carefully. If you are ever concerned that you may be developing sepsis, seek medical care as soon as possible. It’s that partnership with patients and providers that saves lives.”
If you suspect sepsis, don’t delay care.
Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department. See all your emergency and other care options.
