This post was written by Jennifer Rechter, MSN, RN-BC, AG-CNS, sepsis coordinator.
Battling an infection is tough work for the body’s immune system, and when it’s struggling, it can tip into a dangerous condition known as sepsis.
Approximately 1.7 million adults and more than 18,000 children develop sepsis each year in the U.S. It continues to be one of the leading causes of death for hospital patients. NASCAR driver Kyle Busch recently died at age 41 after developing sepsis following a severe case of pneumonia, a reminder of the severe threat it can pose to patients of any age.
What is sepsis?
Sepsis occurs when the body’s response to an infection becomes extreme and starts to damage its own tissues and organs. It can develop from many kinds of infection, including bacterial, viral, fungal or parasitic infections. It most often begins in the lungs, urinary tract, abdomen or skin.
Who is at risk of developing sepsis?
Sepsis can impact any patient at any age, but some people are more vulnerable. Higher-risk groups include:
- Older adults (65+)
- Infants under one year old
- Pregnant or postpartum individuals
- Those who previously survived sepsis
- Individuals with chronic conditions, such as diabetes, lung disease, cancer and kidney disease
- People recovering from severe illness, surgery or hospitalization
- Individuals with weakened immune systems
What are some of the identifying signs of sepsis?
Because sepsis can present a range of symptoms, it can be challenging to distinguish it from other infections. Fortunately, the Sepsis Alliance has created an easy-to-remember acronym to help people recognize the warning signs.
- Temperature: higher or lower than normal, clammy or sweaty skin
- Infection: existing signs of infection like fever, shivering, feeling very cold, or either a high heart rate or weak pulse
- Mental decline: confusion, difficulty rousing or trouble staying awake, disoriented
- Extremely ill - severe pain, discomfort or shortness of breath
If you or a loved one experiences any combination of these symptoms, seek urgent medical care, call 911 or go to the nearest hospital immediately.
What actions can be taken to reduce the risk of sepsis?
There are many things you can do to reduce your risk of developing sepsis including:
Preventing infection
- Keep up to date with recommended vaccinations
- Take good care of chronic conditions like diabetes, lung disease, cancer and kidney disease
Practicing good hygiene
- Clean hands
- Keep cuts and wounds clean
- Clean mouth and teeth
Knowing signs and symptoms of sepsis
Acting fast
Why are quick actions crucial?
One of the most dangerous aspects of sepsis is how quickly it can progress. The chances of survival decrease every hour there is a delay in treatment, with the risk of death rising by 4–9% per hour. Early diagnosis and treatment can prevent about 80% of sepsis deaths.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), sepsis is considered a medical emergency. Seek medical care immediately if you or a loved one has an infection that is getting worse or not improving. It is acceptable to ask your healthcare professionals, “Could this infection be leading to sepsis?”.
What is Parkview doing to help with sepsis identification?
Parkview is committed to ongoing sepsis work to help ensure patients are getting the best care possible. Through the steps we have taken, we have seen an increase in the number of sepsis diagnoses and a reduction in mortality and hospital length of stays for sepsis patients.
- Early detection of sepsis. In January 2019, the Sepsis Council, in collaboration with the Business Intelligence-Analytic team, implemented the “Early Detection of Sepsis” predictive model to help healthcare providers with early detection and intervention for sepsis patients. With this model, healthcare providers are alerted when a patient reaches a certain threshold score based on their temperature, respiratory rate, heart rate, blood pressure and more. If there are any concerns about sepsis, providers have a protocol to follow to carry out early and timely sepsis care.
- Decrease variations in sepsis care. The Sepsis Council continues to work on processes to decrease variations in care and improve patient outcomes for sepsis patients through the Parkview Health System.
- Sepsis surveillance. In 2020, Parkview implemented a sepsis surveillance nurse program that assists with early recognition and identification of sepsis, reduced sepsis practice alert fatigue for nurses, identifying subtle changes in sepsis patients and allowing for extra monitoring for those at-risk for developing sepsis. These nurses spot dangerous signs earlier; therefore, caregivers can intervene earlier and prevent more harm to a patient’s body and organs. Some treatments for sepsis include blood tests, cultures, IV fluids, antibiotics and close monitoring.
Final thoughts
Educating ourselves and others about the signs and symptoms of sepsis can empower our communities to seek emergency care before it's too late. Together, we can help reduce the devastating impact of sepsis and help save lives.
