What is Sepsis?
Sepsis is a life-threatening medical emergency caused by the body’s overwhelming response to an infection. Sepsis develops when an existing infection triggers an extreme immune system response in the body. The body responds by releasing proteins and other chemicals to fight it. Sepsis occurs when this response gets out of control, triggering extensive inflammation. Severe sepsis can lead to septic shock, a medical emergency and without urgent treatment, it can be fatal.
Stages of Sepsis
There are 3 stages of Sepsis:
- Sepsis. An infection gets into your bloodstream and causes inflammation in the body.
- Severe Sepsis. The infection and inflammation is severe enough to start effecting organ function
- Septic Shock – Septic shock is a severe complication of sepsis that causes a significant drop in blood pressure. This can lead to many serious complications including: Organ dysfunction, respiratory or heart failure, stroke, possible death.
It’s possible to mistake the symptoms above for those of another condition, like pneumonia, COVID-19, or cancer.
In addition, sepsis symptoms can be particularly hard to identify in infants, children, and people with:
- Communication challenges
- Learning disabilities
- Dementia
It’s best to seek medical assistance right away if you suspect sepsis. A health professional can examine you or the person you care for to make a diagnosis.
Who does sepsis affect
Sepsis can affect anyone, but people with any kind of infection, especially bacteraemia, are at particularly high risk.
Other people who are at high risk include:
- People older than 65 years old, newborns and infants, and pregnant people.
- People with medical conditions such as diabetes, obesity, cancer, and kidney disease.
- People with weakened immune systems.
- People who are in the hospital for other medical reasons.
- People with severe injuries, such as large burns or wounds.
- People with weaker immune systems, including those with HIV or undergoing chemotherapy treatment for cancer.
- People in intensive care units (ICUs).
- People exposed to invasive devices, like intravenous catheters or breathing tubes.
Treatment from sepsis
Sepsis needs treatment in the hospital right away because it can worsen quickly.
You should get antibiotics within 1 hour of arriving at the hospital.
If sepsis is not treated early, it can turn into septic shock and cause your organs to fail. This is life-threatening.
You may need other tests or treatments depending on your symptoms, including:
- treatment in an intensive care unit
- a machine to help you breathe (ventilator)
- surgery to remove areas of infection
You may need to stay in the hospital for several weeks.
Recovering from sepsis
Most people make a full recovery from sepsis, but it can take time.
You might continue to have physical and emotional symptoms. These can last for months, or even years, after you had sepsis.
These long-term effects are sometimes called post-sepsis syndrome and can include:
- Feeling very tired and weak, and difficulty sleeping
- Lack of appetite
- Getting ill more often
- Changes in your mood, or anxiety or depression
- Nightmares or flashbacks
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
DO:
- Ask your work about changes to your working hours or conditions while you’re recovering
- Do some gentle easy exercises to build your strength (see https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/exercise/strength-exercises/)
- Get regular rest and sleep
- Try to prevent infections – for example, by washing your hands regularly
- Try to eat little and often if you have a small appetite
DON’T:
- Do not try to rush your recovery – give yourself time
