Sepsis

Question 1

What increases risk of sepsis?

Answer 1

• High risk hosts: elderly (>75) and very young (<1)
• Impaired immune systems due to illness or treatment
• Post-operative
• Loss of skin integrity such as cuts and burns
• Woman - pregnancy/postnatal, gestational diabetes, PV discharge/bleeding
• Neonatal - Grp B strep, Premature rupture of membranes

Question 2

Define sepsis

Answer 2

Life threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection

Question 3

Define septic shock

Answer 3

• Subset of sepsis
• Persistent hypotension requiring vasopressors to maintain MAP >65mmHg
• Serum lactate >2mmol/L

Question 4

How does sepsis present?

Answer 4

• Wide range of symptoms and signs
• May include source of infection or trigger
• Usually reflects broad systemic response of sepsis