Sepsis Flashcards
What is sepsis
Sepsis is a condition in which the body responds disproportionately to an infection
What is septic shock
septic shock is a subset of sepsis infections that cause the body to go into shock due to lack of oxygen being supplied to the heart and lungs.
What is the NEWS2 score used for
to assess illness severity and risk of deterioration for patients in acute episodes of care in the UK.
What are the 6 different parts of the news 2 score
respiration rate.
oxygen saturation.
systolic blood pressure.
pulse rate.
level of consciousness or new-onset confusion.
temperature.
How do we assess someone for sepsis
Check if patient has signs and symptoms
Check if patient fits into any risk factor groups
Use NEWS 2 score if <5 then clinician CAN make assessment to start the sepsis 6 pathway
What are the most common infections that can lead to sepsis
pnuemonia
uti
abdominal infections
skin
soft tissue
bone
joint
What is the sepsis 6 pathway
it is used to manage sepsis
What is the sofa score used for
to determine organ dysfunction
what are the 6 different parts of the sepsis 6 pathways
Seek senior help - as experience is crucial in order to deliver the appropriate care and confirm the diagnosis
Give oxygen - If there is an imbalance between oxygen supply and oxygen demand in septic shock. Correcting the oxygen saturation prevents tissue hypoxia.
Take Bloods - this can help to identify the causative organism allowing local antimicrobial therapy
Give IV antibiotics - Control the source of the infection if the source is unknown then we use broad spectrum.
Give IV fluids - Hypovolaemia contributes to shock in sepsis, restoring volume can help to correct this, also improves oxygen delivery to organs and reduce long term associated disability
Monitor - Frequently monitored each hour and we test things like urine output, repeating news 2 and do serial lactates.
When do we give oxygen for sepsis
provide if oxygen saturation is less than 92%
What is the goal for the oxygen saturation in sepsis
94-98%
what is hypercarbia
a condition characterized by abnormally elevated levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the blood
If a patient has or is at risk hypercarbia what is the target oxygen saturation %
88-92
what other things may we take when we take a blood for
blood lactate
blood glucose
blood cultures
how often do we review the antibiotic choice for sepsis
each day
Why is hypovolemia bad in sepsis
can contribute to septic shock so best to treat by providing iv fluids.
why is restoring fluids a good idea outside of hypovolemia
it helps oxygen delivery to organs helping to prevent septic shock or manage septic shock.
