Causes And Treatment Of Sepsis

The aim of the essay is to analyse the care of a septic patient. While discussing the relevant physiological changes and the rationale for the treatment the patient received, concentrating on fluid intervention. I recognise there are other elements to the Surviving Sepsis Bundles, however due to word limitation; the focus will be on fluid intervention. The essay will be written as a Case Study format.

Infection is when foreign bodies such as bacteria, fungi and parasites invade your body these germs can cause disease and can even lead to amputation or even death in the host body. An infection may cause no symptoms or it may cause symptoms where you become really symptomatic and be hospitalized.

Septic shock is the leading cause of death for patients in intensive care units and is the final stage in a continuum of infectious and inflammatory processes. This continuum begins with bacteremia, which is the presence of bacteria in the blood. Normally the body’s immune system can fight off a localized infection caused by a small amount of bacteria in the blood and the person will remain asymptomatic. However, a hospitalized patient could be immunocompromised, have a

Infection is the process where germs enter a susceptible area in the body, where they multiply, resulting in disease.

Is sepsis complicated by organ dysfunction, is diagnosed in more than 750,000 patients per year and has mortality rates as high as 28%-50%.

The number of documented cases has been rising every year. “This may be due to the aging population, the increased longevity of people with chronic disease, the spread of antibiotic-resistant organisms, an upsurge in invasive procedures and broader use of immunosuppressive and chemotherapeutic agents” (National Institute of General Medical Sciences, 2014). The mortality rate for sepsis ranges from about thirty percent for patients with sepsis to fifty percent in patients who develop septic shock. Mortality rate varies as to how many organs have been affected. Twenty percent mortality for one organ failure, forty percent for two organs failing, sixty-five to seventy percent for three failed organs, and seventy-five to eighty-five percent when four or more organs have failed. The cost related to sepsis is about seventeen billion dollars per year (about twenty-two thousand dollars per patient), which is six times greater than the cost of patients without sepsis.

Sepsis is defined by the Surviving Sepsis Campaign (SSC) as “the presence (probable or documented) of infection together with systemic manifestations of infection” (Dellinger et al.,

There is a disease continuum with increasing severity if not treated or not responsive to treatment o Sepsis

Under the Core measures, Sepsis is one of the problem-focused trigger for systemic infection and if untreated which can lead to death. In United States, it is the 11th leading cause of death and consumes the large amount of costs about $20.3 billion in 2011 (Jones et al.,2016). According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 1.5 million people diagnosed with sepsis, and at least 250,000 patients die from that yearly (CDC, 2017). The evidence-based research revealed with results of certain pre existing conditions, pathophysiological studies, preventive measures and sepsis bundle for treating and preventing sepsis to save the life of the patients.

According to information published by the Mayo Clinic, sepsis has three stages: sepsis, severe sepsis and septic shock. The mortality rate for septic shock is nearly 50 per cent, and an episode of severe sepsis increases the risk of future infections. Severe sepsis causes blood flow to the vital organs, such as the brain, heart and kidneys, to become impaired. Sepsis can also cause blood clots to form in organs and extremities such as arms, legs, fingers and toes, which can lead to organ failure and tissue death (gangrene).

Hadjiliadis, D. (2012, January 2). Septic Shock. New York Times. Retrieved November 23, 2013, from http://www.nytimes.com/health/guides/dise

As sepsis progresses, tissues become less perfused and acidotic, compensation begins to fail, and the patient begins to show organ dysfunction. The cardiovascular system also begins to fail, the blood pressure does not respond to fluid resuscitation and vasoactive agents, and signs of end-organ damage are evident (e.g., renal failure, pulmonary failure, hepatic failure). As sepsis progresses to septic shock, the blood pressure drops, and the skin becomes cool, pale, and mottled. Temperature may be normal or below normal. Heart and respiratory rates remain rapid. Urine production ceases, and multiple organ dysfunction progressing to death occurs. Adventitious lung sounds occur throughout the lung fields, not just in the upper fields of the lungs.

This leads us to the next step in the pathophysiology of Sepsis. Stage 2 of sepsis, which is when SIRS plus the confirmation of an infection has been made. At this stage, the patient’s body has been continuously fighting something in their body and it is starting to have an effect on the patient. Signs and symptoms of sepsis are often nonspecific and include the following: Fever, chills, or rigors, Confusion, Anxiety, Difficulty breathing, Fatigue, malaise, Nausea and vomiting. It is important to identify any potential source of infection. Localizing signs and symptoms referable to organ systems may provide useful clues to the etiology of sepsis and are as follows: Head and neck infections: Severe headache, neck stiffness, altered mental

et al., 2008). Sepsis is a frequent cause of admission to intensive care units (ICUs) and it

If the immune system is unable to stop the infection, the bacterium will multiply and then spread to the bloodstream, after which the first signs of disease are observed in the form of fever. The bacterium penetrates further into the bone marrow, liver, and bile ducts, from which bacteria are excreted into the bowel movements. (Easmon 2003)