Sepsis Flashcards
Define Sepsis.
Life-threatening condition- when body’s response to infection becomes damaging- inflammation- immune system reactions become dysregulated
Define septic shock.
Paticularly profound circulatory, cellular, metabolic abnormalities- dangerously low blood pressure
What are the effects of Sepsis on the organ systems? (ABCDE)
Airways- if infection in throat/neck
Breathing- tachpnoea, fluids & proteins leaking- lung oedema
Circulation- hypovolaemia (vasodilation), hypotension, tachycardia
Disability- reduced blood flow to BRAIN- confusion, anxiety, drowsiness
Exposure- high temperature
What’s the approximate mortality rate for sepsis?
29%
Who is at high risk of acquiring sepsis?
- V. young (<1yr)
- Elderly (>75yrs)
- Pregnant, post partum (within 6 weeks)
- Immunocompromised
How do we diagnose sepsis?
Trigger early warning score (NEWS2)
What is NEWS2?
National Early Warning Score 2:
6 physiological measures:
- Respiration rate
- Systolic Blood pressure
- Oxygen saturation
- Temperature
- Conciousness level
- Pulse rate
What does calculating a NEWS2 score allow for?
Indentify patients who need URGENT CLINICAL REVIEW
If SCORE is 5+ THINK SEPSIS
What is ‘Red flag sepsis’?
Criteria used to identify patients with any organ dysfunction
Name some ‘redflag symptoms’ for sepsis.
- Acute confusion
- Respiratory rate >25 per minute
- Non-blanching rash
- Recent chemo
- HR >130 bpm
- Not passed urine- last 18 hrs
What is the sepsis 6 care bundle- which will increase a patients chance of survival if delivered in first hour of sepsis recognition? (BUFALO with 1 F)
B= Take BLOOD CULTURE- identify pathogen
U= Monitor URINE output
F= Give FLUIDS (improve preload to heart)
A= Give ANTIBIOTICS
L= Take HB and LACTATE (high lactate= hypoperfusion)
O= Give OXYGEN (improve content in blood)
How is cerebrospinal fluid obtained?
Lumbar puncture (used for diagnostics)
