Sepsis Flashcards
What is sepsis?
Sepsis is a life-threatening reaction to an infection.
It happens when your immune system overreacts to an infection and starts to damage your body’s own tissues and organs.
Sepsis is sometimes called septicaemia or blood poisoning.
Who are the at risk groups?
Babies under 1, particularly if they’re born early (premature) or their mother had an infection while pregnant
- People over 75
- People with diabetes
- People with a weakened immune system, such as those having chemotherapy treatment or who recently had an organ transplant
- People who have recently had surgery or a serious illness
women who have just given birth, had a miscarriage or had an abortion
Can you catch sepsis from someone else?
You cannot catch sepsis from another person. It happens when your body overreacts to an infection.
What are the signs and sympotms of sepsis in children
-blue, pale or blotchy skin, lips or tongue
- a rash that does not fade when you roll a glass over it, the same as meningitis
- difficulty breathing (you may notice grunting noises or their stomach sucking under their ribcage), breathlessness or breathing very fast
-a weak, high-pitched cry that’s not like their normal cry
-not responding like they normally do, or not interested in feeding or normal activities
-being sleepier than normal or difficult to wake
People may not have all of these symptoms
What are the signs and sympotms of sepsis in adults
- acting confused, slurred speech or not making sense
- blue, pale or blotchy skin, lips or tongue
- a rash that does not fade when you roll a glass over it, the same as meningitis
- difficulty breathing, breathlessness or breathing very fast
When should you call 111 if you suspect sepsis
You, your child or someone you look after:
feels very unwell or like there's something seriously wrong has not had a pee all day (for adults and older children) or in the last 12 hours (for babies and young children) keeps vomiting and cannot keep any food or milk down (for babies and young children) has swelling, redness or pain around a cut or wound has a very high or low temperature, feels hot or cold to the touch, or is shivering
In which demographics is sepsis particularly hard to spot
babies and young children
people with dementia
people with a learning disability
people who have difficulty communicating
Describe how a sepsis response affects the body’s blood supply and organs
Sepsis is a potentially life-threatening condition. In sepsis, the body’s immune system goes into overdrive as it tries to fight an infection. This can reduce the blood supply to vital organs such as the brain, heart and kidneys. Without quick treatment, sepsis can lead to multiple organ failure and death.
Define the following terms: Pyrexia Pallor Tachycardia CRP WCC
Pyrexia (raised body temperature; fever)
Pallor (an unhealthy pale appearance)
Tachycardia (markedly elevated resting heart rate)
Raised infection markers in blood
CRP (c-reactive protein), WCC (total white cell count)
Define severe symptoms (using medical criteria)
Severe sepsis: “Sepsis PLUS sepsis-induced organ dysfunction or tissue hypoperfusion”
Low urine output (<0.5ml/kg/hr) Low arterial oxygen concentrations Changes in blood clotting time (INR >1.5) Raised bilirubin (>70micromol/L) Raised lactate (>1mmol/L)
What criteria does NICE use to stratify sepsis risk
History, respiratory, blood pressure, circulation and hydration, temperature and skin
An infection in which areas of the body can lead to sepsis
Any type of infection can lead to sepsis. Some more common ones are lung infections, UTI, gut infection, skin infection
What is the castcade from infection to death via sepsis
infection, sirs (systemic inflammatory resopnse syndrome), sepsis, severe sepsis, septic shock, death
What are the risk factors for sepsis
Immunocompromise HIV infection Cancer chemotherapy Neonates and infants Chronic disease Recent surgery - associated with ssis Invasive procedures Central lines Urinary catheters
What is the mortality percentage of a patient with septic shock
50%!
