What is Sepsis?
Sepsis could be called a severe complication of viral, bacterial, parasitic or fungal infection. In this condition, the body develops an extreme immune response to the presence of an infection, most often bacterial. It begins to clot blood and develop inflammation throughout the body, particularly in small blood vessels. Aggressive sepsis can cause organ failure, which may lead to death if not immediately addressed.
Sepsis can develop from fairly benign infections. A bout of pneumonia, a bad cut, or something like strep throat may cause it. It most commonly occurs when people are in the hospital. Early symptoms can include abnormally high or low body temperature, unusual respiratory patterns and high heart rate. When the condition is untreated, it can quickly progress to a severe state or to septic shock. Symptoms of septic shock or severe sepsis may include but are not limited to things like confusion, bleeding from the skin or rash, and reduction in urine output.
The main reason sepsis seems to occur is because the body overreacts to presence of infection. Instead of producing an appropriate immune response to fight infection, it overdoes it significantly. Usually, the body has a check and balance system for fighting infection, but this system gets overridden when a person becomes septic. Things like blood clotting and inflammation are part of immune response but when they are not regulated they quickly become problematic instead of helpful.
When this condition is recognized, it is treated aggressively with antibiotics or other medications appropriate to attack different types of infections. Identifying the primary infection may be helpful and some people require surgery to drain pus from large infections. People who are septic often require hospitalization because of the high risk for organ failure. When one or more organs begin to fail the condition is classed as severe, and if the heart begins to fail this is called septic shock. Doctors try to treat the condition before organ failure occurs, because septic shock has a much higher risk of complications and death.
It is not always possible to prevent sepsis, though if you are hospitalized, you should take some precautions. People who enter your room, be they nurses, doctors or visitors, should always wash their hands before touching you. It’s okay to ask medical professionals to wash their hands if they have not upon entering your room. When you have things like catheters that you use at home, it’s also a good idea to make sure you observe safe handwashing practices.
It isn’t always clear why some people develop sepsis while others don’t. The elderly and those in hospitals are most at risk, but it is a condition that can occur to pretty much anyone at any stage of life. If you think you have sepsis you should get immediate medical attention.
Written by Tricia Ellis-Christensen
