Sepsis: Symptoms, Causes, Treatment & Risks

What is Sepsis?

Sepsis is a life-threatening illness caused by the body's immune response to infection. There are times when the immune system goes into overdrive as a response to infection and causes damage to body tissues. A septic infection is life-threatening because it can quickly progress to septic shock. This shock can dramatically drop blood pressure and lead to organ failure and death.

Is sepsis contagious?

Sepsis and septic wounds are not contagious and do not spread from person to person or through physical contact. Rather, it spreads within the body via the bloodstream.

Stages of sepsis

Sepsis syndrome is divided into three stages. The three types of sepsis are:

1. Sepsis (SIRS)

Sepsis is not easily diagnosable at this stage. There is a high or low body temperature, rapid heart and breathing rate. The white blood cell count will either be high or low.

2. Severe sepsis

During this stage, organ dysfunction begins due to the blood pressure is low due to sepsis. Organs stop receiving adequate blood to function.

It can result in symptoms such as:

• Secreased urinary output

• Low platelet count

• Breathing difficulty

• Stomach pain

• Sudden change in mental state

3. Septic shock

In the most severe stage, there is a chance of multi-organ failure. Septic shock has the highest death rate, ranging between 30- 50%.

What are the symptoms of Sepsis?

The presence of infection must be suspected or proven before sepsis can be diagnosed:

• Mental confusion

• Systolic blood pressure is less than or equal to 100 mmHg.

• Breathing rate equal to or greater than 22 breaths per minute

Signs of sepsis

Here are some of the most common signs of a septic infection:

• Rapid heartbeat and respiration.

• Respiration difficulty.

• Confusion or a loss of direction.

• Extreme discomfort or pain.

• A fever, shivers, or extreme cold.

• Sweaty or clammy skin

Signs and symptoms of septic shock

In septic shock, there is a severe drop in blood pressure. This causes a disturbance in how the cells work and produce energy. The progression of a septic infection to septic shock increases the chances of death. These are the signs of progression:

• Medication is required to maintain systolic blood pressure.

• Lactic acid levels in the blood are elevated. This is an indication that the cells are not using adequate amounts of oxygen.

Causes of Sepsis

Sepsis can be caused by any type of bacterial, viral, or fungal wound. The most common causes of sepsis include infections in:

• Pneumonia (lung infection)

• Kidney, bladder, and other parts of the urinary system

• Digestive system

• Bloodstream

• Catheter sites

• Wounds and burns

Risk factors for sepsis

Several risk factors increase the likelihood of developing body sepsis:

• Advanced age

• Infants

• Compromised immune system

• Diabetes

• Kidney or liver disease

• ICU or longer hospital days

• Invasive devices such as catheters that are inserted into the bloodstream

• Previous use of medications like antibiotics or steroids

Complications related to sepsis

In a sepsis patient, as the condition worsens, blood flow to vital organs (brain, liver, kidney, and heart) is compromised. As sepsis fever progresses, it can cause abnormal clotting of the blood, which damages and bursts the blood vessels. In turn, causes tissue damage. Most people are able to recover from mild sepsis, but the septic shock is what leads to death. An episode of severe septic infection places the person at higher risk for future infections.

How is sepsis diagnosed?

Sepsis is diagnosed using a number of physical signs in the body, such as:

• Sepsis fever

• Low blood pressure

• Elevated heart rate

• Difficult breathing

Doctors also perform tests to check for organ damage. Some of these tests are used to identify the germ that is causing the infection. Tests can include bacterial culture tests, viral tests, and fungal tests.

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Criteria for sepsis

The SOFA(qSOFA) score is the criteria used to quickly diagnose sepsis. It includes the following:

• Change in mental status

• 100 mm Hg or less for systolic blood pressure (SBP).

• The rate of breathing equals or exceeds 22 breaths per minute.

A score of more than or equal to 2 is suggestive of sepsis.

Treatment for sepsis

The three main forms of treatment given to a septic patient are as follows:

• Antibiotics are given through the veins into the bloodstream. It should start within an hour of the diagnosis. It is replaced by tablets in 2–4 days.

• Intravenous fluids are started immediately with antibiotics.

• Vasopressor medications are given when the blood pressure is low despite the treatment.

How to recover from sepsis?

Following sepsis, the recovery phase begins in the hospital by gradually assisting the person to move around and take care of themselves. It includes bathing, sitting up, standing, walking, and using the restroom independently. Rehab's goal is to get the person back to their prior state of health. Recovery is started gradually based on your current health.

How to prevent sepsis?

Sepsis can be prevented by these simple steps:

• Prevent infections by taking care of chronic infections.

• Take vaccines whenever needed.

• Practice good hygiene whenever there is an injury.

• Awareness of all the signs and symptoms of sepsis

• Seek early care.

Sepsis is a life-threatening disease. Early detection and intervention can be lifesaving.