Although Sepsis represents 20% of all global deaths, a recent survey revealed that 81% of Americans don’t know its symptoms. As September is Sepsis Awareness Month, let’s use this month to spread information and learn more about this life-threatening condition.
What is Sepsis?
Sepsis is the extreme response of the body’s immune system to an infection, which can damage vital organs, and may cause death. In other words, it’s the body’s overactive and toxic response to an infection. Any infection, bacterial, viral, or fungal, can lead to Sepsis. At the same time, an abnormal chain reaction in the clotting system can cause blood clots to form in the blood vessels. This reduces blood flow to the body’s different organs and can cause significant damage or even failure. Like in other medical emergencies, rapid diagnosis and immediate onset of treatment are crucial in Sepsis.
In severe cases, Sepsis may progress into Septic Shock, which is a dramatic drop in blood pressure that can damage the lungs, kidneys, liver, and other organs. Progression to Septic Shock raises the risk of death. Most people recover if they suffer from mild Sepsis, however, the mortality rate for septic shock is about 30% to 40%, in a short time of as little as 12 hours.
Sepsis is one of the most frequent causes of death worldwide. In 2020, there were about 50 million cases and 11 million Sepsis-related deaths worldwide, representing 20% of all global deaths. About half of these reported cases are comprised of children under 5 years of age. Although it can affect every individual, Sepsis incidence and mortality are higher among people from lower and middle-income countries.
Prevention from Sepsis
Practicing good hygiene including handwashing, keeping cuts and wounds clean and keeping them covered until healed, keeping up to date on recommended vaccines, and getting medical attention immediately if you suspect any infection is important in the prevention of Sepsis.
Risk Groups of Sepsis
Sepsis can affect anyone but older and very young people, pregnant, or people with chronic health issues are at higher risk.
Symptoms of Sepsis
In recognizing symptoms of Sepsis, the T.I.M.E abbreviation might be useful in remembering.
T: Temperature-higher or lower than normal
I: Infection-may have signs and symptoms of an infection
M: Mental decline- confused, sleepy, difficult to rouse
E: Extremely ill- severe pain, discomfort, shortness of breath
Diagnosis of Sepsis
Sepsis treatment needs to begin immediately. The most important concern in Sepsis is a quick diagnosis and prompt treatment. In the clinical course and treatment of Sepsis, antibiotic resistance is the leading obstacle where patients infected with resistant pathogens have a higher risk of hospital mortality. Antibiotic resistance is a major factor determining clinical unresponsiveness to treatment and rapid evolution to Sepsis and Septic Shock. Therefore, quick and accurate in-vitro diagnosis solutions like Real-Time PCR Kits detecting Sepsis pathogens and antibiotic resistance genes at the same time provide an important advantage in this time-sensitive infection and treatment course of patients.
