Sepsis

Sepsis Overview:

Sepsis is diagnosed in over one million patients each year in the United States (Hall et al., 2011). Furthermore, septicemia treatment resulted in an estimated $20.3 billion or 5.2 percent of the total cost for all hospitalizations and was the most expensive condition treated in the year 2011 (Hall et al., 2011). Not only is sepsis expensive and prevalent, patients diagnosed with sepsis are estimated to have a mortality rate of 28 to 50 percent (Angus, 2001). Learn more from Carl Flatley who founded the Sepsis Alliance after the death of his daughter, Erin.

The risk of mortality and urgency when treating all stages of sepsis, from sepsis to septic shock, drove the development of the three and six hour bundles, which are approved by the National Quality Forum as the first scientifically sound, valid and reliable elements for the care of the septic patient (Dellinger, 2013). These bundles prompt the completion of the indicated tasks within the first three to six hours after the identification of septic symptoms – 100 percent of the time.

What is Sepsis?

Sepsis is the body’s overwhelming and life-threatening response to infection that can lead to tissue damage, organ failure, and death. In other words, it’s your body’s over active and toxic response to an infection.

Your immune system usually works to fight any germs (bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites) to prevent infection. If an infection does occur, your immune system will try to fight it, although you may need help with medication such as antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals, and antiparasitics. However, for reasons researchers don’t understand, sometimes the immune system stops fighting the “invaders,” and begins to turn on itself. This is the start of sepsis.

What Causes Sepsis?

Any type of infection that is anywhere in your body can cause sepsis. It is often associated with infections of the lungs (e.g., pneumonia), urinary tract (e.g., kidney), skin, and gut. An infection occurs when germs enter a person’s body and multiply, causing illness and organ and tissue damage.

Life After Sepsis

What are the first steps in recovery?
After you have had sepsis, rehabilitation usually starts in the hospital by slowly helping you to move around and look after yourself: bathing, sitting up, standing, walking, taking yourself to the restroom, etc. The purpose of rehabilitation is to restore you back to your previous level of health or as close to it as possible. Begin your rehabilitation by building up your activities slowly, and rest when you are tired.