Sepsis Tutorial

Question 1

How does sepsis occur?

Answer 1

Microbial host barrier breach (skin/mucous membranes) —> unregulated immune response

Question 2

What is sepsis?

Answer 2

Serious, life-threatening, systemic infection reaction
—> Widespread inflammation

Question 3

What are the 9 risk factors of sepsis?

Answer 3

1. Bacteremia
2. Hospital/ICU admittance —> nocosomial infection
3. Immune deficiency (eg. AIDS)
4. Recent surgery/hospitalisation —> altered microbiome
5. Indwelling medical device (eg. catheter)
6. Age —> infants and elderly
7. Pneumonia
8. Chronic diseases (eg. diabetes, COPD)
9. Genetics

Question 3

What are some of the symptoms of sepsis?

Answer 3

1. Fever
2. Tachypnea (breathing rate inc)
3. Tachycardia (heart rate inc)
4. Hypotension (blood pressure dec) - doesn’t change when fluids given
5. Urine output dec
6. Altered mental status
7. Signs of shock - cool skin/cyanosis

Question 4

How is sepsis indicated on a FBC?

Answer 4

1. Inc WBC (left shift)
2. Inc CRP

Question 5

What does severe sepsis lead to? (2)

Answer 5

1. Septic shock
2. MODS (multiple organ dysfunction syndrome)

Question 6

What are the 3 treatment pathways for sepsis?

Answer 6

1. Medications
2. Sugery
3. Other interventions

Question 7

How are drugs used to treat sepsis?

Answer 7

Broad spectrum antibiotics till pathogen identified

Question 8

What are the 4 other interventions used in sepsis treatment?

Answer 8

1. Haemodynamic support
2. Respiratory support
3. Infection prevention
4. Complication prevention

Question 9

What is puerperal sepsis?

Answer 9

Sepsis from childbirth complication

Question 10

What happens to the heart rate, blood pressure and respiratory rate of a patient in septic shock?

Answer 10

1. HR inc
2. BP dec
3. RR inc

Question 11

Which antibiotic can be used to treat S. pyogenes?

Answer 11

Penicillin