sepsis

Question 1

what is a sepsis

Answer 1

Sepsis is a condition where the body launches a large immune response to an infection that causes systemic inflammation and affects the functioning of the organs of the body.

Question 2

what rises in sepsis

Answer 2

blood lactate

Question 3

what is septic shock

2 ways of measuring it

Answer 3

Septic shock is defined when arterial blood pressure drops and results in organ hypo-perfusion. This leads to a rise in blood lactate as the organs begin anaerobic respiration. This can be measured as either:

Systolic blood pressure less than 90 despite fluid resuscitation
Hyperlactaemia (lactate > 4 mmol/L)

Question 4

septic six

3 tests 3 treatments

Answer 4

Three Tests:

Blood lactate level
Blood cultures
Urine output
Three Treatments:

Oxygen to maintain oxygen saturations 94-98% (or 88-92% in COPD)
Empirical broad spectrum antibiotics
IV fluids

Question 5

Agranulocytosis

Answer 5

not enough neutrophils made

Question 6

Neutropenic sepsis is a very important medical emergency. It is sepsis in a patient with a low neutrophil count of less than 1 x 109/L.

what medication can cause this

Answer 6

Anti-cancer chemotherapy
Clozapine (schizophrenia)
Hydroxychloroquine (rheumatoid arthritis)
Methotrexate (rheumatoid arthritis)
Sulfasalazine (rheumatoid arthritis)
Carbimazole (hyperthyroidism)
Quinine (malaria)
Infliximab (monoclonal antibody use for immunosuppression)
Rituximab (monoclonal antibody use for immunosuppression)