Sepsis is a blood infection which if not treated properly or identified in time can be fatal. Dev Goswami finds out all the information that you need to know about this condition so that you can recognise it and be prepared
Sepsis is a condition where bacteria or fungi infect your blood system and your body finds it hard to fight the infection. An infected bloodstream can lead to septic shock, where the infection becomes so severe that your blood pressure drops to dangerously low levels, which can prove to be fatal. Spetic shock is also seen in the form of organ failure where your vital organs, such as lungs, heart or kidneys, stop functioning.
What makes this condition more dangerous is the vast number of sources through which your bloodstream may get infected. Dr. Ashok Borisa, a surgeon at Fortis Hospital, tells us, “Bacteria can infect almost any organ or implanted device such as the skin, lungs, gastrointestinal tract, surgical site, intravenous catheter and more. The infecting agents or their toxins (or both) then spread directly or indirectly into the bloodstream. Once they enter your bloodstream, they can spread to almost any other organ system.”
This basically means that something as innocent as a scratch or cut can eventually lead to sepsis (Yes, really! This is the reason why we should rush to disinfect our wounds the moment we get hurt).
Apart from this, other common infections of your body which are known to lead to sepsis include peritonitis (irritation of a tissue in your abdomen), urinary tract infection, meningitis, bacterial pneumonia and infections of your skin, liver or gall bladder. In children, sepsis can also be caused by the infection of the bone.
Am I at risk?
If reading all the weirdly named medical conditions above made you think that sepsis isn’t caused due to very common conditions, think again. One of the biggest factors that increase your risk of sepsis is a poor immune system. And Dr. Ashok tells us that conditions such as diabetes or AIDS, which lower your immunity, can put you at a risk of contracting sepsis.
Other factors which increase your risk or rather factors which are known to infect your bloodstream include chemotherapy drugs and radiation (which are used to treat cancer), getting your spleen removed (the spleen helps fight certain infections), immunosuppressive medication (lowers your immunity and is usually taken by transplant receipts) and a long term consumption of steroids.
Apart from medical conditions, Dr. Ashok also tells us that very young and elderly people are at a higher risk of contracting sepsis. In brief, it can be said that a weakened immunity is one the biggest factors which increases the chances of your getting sepsis and any medical condition or treatment which contributes to a lower immunity can increase the risk of you suffering from sepsis.
How will I know if I have sepsis?
Some of the most common symptoms of sepsis include chills, decreased urine output, low body temperature, hyperventilation, light-headedness due to low blood pressure and confusion or delirium. Dr. Ashok adds, “You may also see indications such as an elevated heart rate, extreme body temperature (either high or low), rapid breathing and an abnormal white blood cells count (which can only be confirmed through a blood test).”
When you have a look at the symptoms of sepsis, you will see that most of the symptoms are quite generalised and can easily be confused with any other medical conditions. That’s why medical tests are the safest and best way to know if you are suffering from sepsis.
If you suffer from any of the symptoms and suspect that you might be suffering from sepsis, Dr. Ashok tells us that you should immediately get a blood culture test done. He adds, “However, sometimes a blood culture test might not show the infection in people who have been receiving antibiotic medicines. At such times, other tests which can be done include blood gas tests, kidney function tests, platelet count and white blood cell count.”
Treatment & complications
Sepsis is a condition where you really cannot waste any time either getting it diagnosed or starting treatment. An apt example would be that of Yash Sharma. The 19-year old student’s mother recently passed away due to sepsis. The importance of getting it diagnosed in time is understood when you take in what he has to say. He says, “My mother was supposed to get her tests done a day after she passed away. Before we could get the tests done, the infection overwhelmed her system and her body gave up.”
It is a life threatening condition and improper treatment or no treatment can lead to a septic shock which is a medical emergency. This further leads to respiratory failure, cardiac failure or other organ failure. In some cases it also causes gangrene (death of a tissue in your body) which can lead to possible amputation.
The first thing that you will have to do when it comes to treating this condition is get hospitalised. Depending on the severity of your condition, Dr. Ashok tells us that you have to get admitted in the intensive care unit. He adds, “The initial treatment includes a course of antibiotics. Once the source of infection is identified, the treatment proceeds accordingly. In case of respiratory failure, patients may be put on mechanical ventilation. Similarly, in case of renal (kidney) failure they will be put under dialysis.”
For a condition where there is a lot to say about the causes, symptoms and the treatment; it is unfortunate that there is very little to say about its prevention. As we mentioned earlier, it a medical emergency and there is nothing that you can do on your own to prevent the condition.
The best that can be done is to follow proper hygiene to ensure that you reduce your risk of infection as much as possible. Also, those at a higher risk should watch out for sepsis and this is where knowing about the condition will help you. While you may not be able to prevent it, you will at least know what you should be doing in case you contract the condition.