Sepsis

Sepsis General Information

Sepsis, also known as SIRS (systemic inflammatory response syndrome) is probably one of the most dangerous medical conditions caused by a massive infection of the blood stream. The organism usually develops this type of disorder as a response to various microorganisms or to their toxins released in the blood or tissues. The common meaning of this medical disorder is “blood poisoning”. The fact that the patient’s immune system goes into overdrive determines the formation of small blood clots that block blood flow to the vital organs. Often, this leads to failure of the respective organs. More prone to develop this life threatening disease called Sepsis are the people with a damaged immune system, older persons and babies (who do not have a complete developed immune system). Sometimes, even completely healthy people can get this deadly disorder.

Because the risks of this medical condition are significantly high, a quick diagnosis and an adequate treatment are crucial, saving the patient’s life. The rates of mortality and morbidity are very worrying when referring to Sepsis. One in four people who suffer from this terrible type of infection die in a matter of days. The infection demands very careful and close medical care. It is usually treated in the ICU (intensive care unit) of a hospital with antibiotics and intravenous fluids. The causes that lead to the appearance of this illness are numerous and different: bacterial infections that can have various origins in the body (skin, liver, kidneys, lung, gall bladder, or bowel), meningitis, osteomyelitis etc.

Sepsis Symptoms

Because Sepsis is often life-threatening and can easily cause the death of the patient, we strongly advise you to inform yourself very well in what concerns this type of infections. We will try to familiarize you with it by presenting you a list of several important signs and symptoms. As you know, each organism reacts in a different way when it is attacked by harmful microorganisms and this is why our list may not include all the possible manifestations. For more information we recommend you to contact a specialist. As any other type of infection, this one too can be characterized by several specific signs and symptoms, such as low temperature of the body (hypothermia), warm skin, chills, fever, shaking, delirium, hyperventilation, decreased urine output, rapid beat of the heart, confusion, skin rash etc.

The fever is an obvious evidence of an acute inflammation that is present throughout the entire body. The patient can feel dizzy, weak and may have several episodes of fainting. Leukocytosis or elevated white blood cells count may be present. If Sepsis is severe, organ failure may occur, as well as hypotension (low pressure of the blood) or hypoperfusion (insufficient flow of the blood). These can affect one or more vital organs, causing other more severe complications, for example lactic acidosis (a result of blood gases), altered mental status, septic shock and finally, death. When dealing with Sepsis, blood pressure drops result in shock, stopping the major organs to function. With the proper treatment applied in time, the infection may not cause death.

Sepsis Treatment

If you suffer from a disease of such kind, that represents a real threat for your life, you should be very well informed about the available treatment options. As in other many cases, if the diagnosis is set in time and the proper therapy is applied, then the chances for a full recovery are increased. This is why we strongly advise you to contact your health care provider as soon as you start experiencing any of the signs and symptoms that we have listed above. Sepsis evolves very rapidly and it is better to go to a hospital immediately after you have been exposed to any of the risk factors. During a medical examination you will be asked about your signs and symptoms and after, the doctor will ask you to do some tests. The most common types of tests include: platelet count that may be low, kidney function that is usually abnormal, white blood cell count that can be very low or very high, blood culture to reveal the presence of bacteria or other harmful microorganisms etc. If these tests indicate the patient has Sepsis, then the doctor must proceed immediately with applying the adequate treatment. Of course, the treatment options for Sepsis vary a lot depending on the organism that caused the disease and also on the age of the patient. The sources of infection should be first discovered and removed or drained (for example abscesses).

This type of infection is a very delicate one and requires careful and close medical attendance. The patients must be hospitalized as soon as their disease is discovered and monitored continually in an ICU, a special intensive care unit. As soon as Sepsis is just suspected, the doctors should initiate broad spectrum antibiotics therapy administrated in the vein (IV, intravenously). The specialists can lower the levels of antibiotics after they receive the results from the tests and the organism causing the infection is identified. Infants usually receive Gentamicin, an aminoglycoside in combination with Ampicilin, a beta-lactam antibiotic. A third generation Cephalospirin (prescribed as Cefotaxime; Ceftriaxone must be avoided being administrated to neonates because it can cause biliary stasis) can also be used. In adults and children the treatment options are also based on antibiotics, accompanied by fluid replacement, drainage of the infected fluid accumulations or adequate support for organ dysfunctions. This usually includes mechanical ventilation if pulmonary dysfunction (respiratory failure) occurs, hemodialysis in the case of kidney failure or transfusions of blood. The doctors should ensure the necessary nutrition of the patient. If it is needed, parenteral nutrition is given, but generally, enteral feeding is preferred. 

In the severe cases of Sepsis, health care providers offer supportive therapy: intravenous liquids, oxygen and medications that increase the pressure of the blood required for a good outcome. Although the death rates are significantly high (over 60% of the cases) for people who have underlying health problems, for those without other illnesses, mortality is less. The possible complications that usually appear involve septic shock, disseminated intravascular coagulation and impaired blood flow to vital organs.