Sepsis Flashcards
What is sepsis?
Sepsis is characterised by a life-threatening organ dysfunction due to a dysregulated host response to infection.
Infections are an invasion of pathogenic microorganisms within tissue. Immunity within pregnancy is lowered.
What are the types of sepsis shock?
- Hypovolaemia - severe dehydration to blood loss
- Cardiogenic - heart cannot pump enough blood to meet body needs
- Obstructive - blood flow to heart or major organs/vessels is blocked/reduced
- Distributive - low blood flow to vital organs due to systemic vasodilation
Each type of shock affects the body’s ability to deliver oxygen to tissues differently.
List common signs and symptoms of sepsis.
- Diarrhoea
- Hypothermia
- Voiding
- Hypotension
- Tachycardia
- Increased O2 requirement
- Pyrexia
- Rigors
- Hyperlactatemia
- Rash
- Altered state of consciousness
- Decreased cap refill
- Abdominal pain and tenderness
- Abnormal FHR
- Tachypnoea
- Cyanosis
- Oedema
- Non-blanching rash
- Poor communication
- Not passing urine
These symptoms can vary widely among individuals and may indicate severe infection.
What is the SEPSIS 6 protocol?
- Ensure senior clinician attends
- Administer high-flow oxygen if SpO2 <92%
- Monitor urine output and lactate
- Administer intravenous antibiotics and consider source control
- Administer intravenous fluids
- IV access and blood tests (blood cultures, lactate, FBC, U&E, CRP)
This protocol is a rapid response to suspected sepsis to improve patient outcomes.
What are the four stages of shock?
- Initial
- Compensatory
- Progressive
- Refractory
Each stage represents a progression of the body’s response to inadequate blood flow and oxygen delivery.
In the initial stage of shock, what occurs?
Reduced fluid, decreased venous return to heart, inadequate ventricles, lower BP, reduced O2 to tissues, cold extremities.
This stage marks the body’s first response to shock.
What occurs during the compensatory stage of shock?
Prioritizes blood to vital organs, vasoconstriction to kidneys, skin, GI tract, and lungs, BP lowers, reduced O2 to tissue, rise in ADH and adrenaline to try to increase BP.
The body attempts to compensate for the lack of blood flow.
What happens in the progressive stage of shock?
Results in multi-system failure; compensatory mechanisms start to fail, BP continues to fall, poor blood supply to coronary arteries, weak pulse, increased acidosis.
This stage indicates a critical condition that requires immediate intervention.
What occurs in the refractory stage of shock?
Multi-system failure, cell death, brain damage, death.
This is the final and most severe stage of shock.
What actions should be completed within one hour according to the Sepsis Six protocol?
- Ensure senior clinician attends
- Administer oxygen if required
- Obtain IV access and take bloods
- Give IV antibiotics
- Administer IV fluids
- Monitor patient
Timely intervention is critical in managing sepsis effectively.
True or False: Immunosuppressed individuals are at greater risk for developing sepsis.
True
Other risk factors also include being part of black/ethnic minority groups.
Fill in the blank: Sepsis is characterized by ______ dysfunction due to a dysregulated host response to infection.
[organ]
Organ dysfunction is a key feature of sepsis.
What are risk factors for development of sepsis?
PROM, infection at home, immunosuppressed, black/ethnic groups, anemia, GBS, surgery, UTI, diabetes
What bloods do we take for suspextivr sepsis and why?
FBC - see how WBC fight infection
U&E - liver and kidney function to ensure o2 circulation
Blood cultures
Lactate - understand if there is lack of o2
