what is?
Sepsis
... for professionals
Is sepsis important?
Sepsis was defined in a 1992 consensus definitions conference (updated 2001) as a systemic response to a new infection. The systemic response is known as SIRS- the Systemic inflammatory Response Syndrome.
Sepsis may be uncomplicated- for example a urinary tract infection causing a mild fever and tachycardia- in which case the patient may well be cared for in the community. Some patients, however, will develop severe sepsis or septic shock, requiring hospitalisation.
Worldwide, sepsis kills well over 1,400 people every single day. In the U.K alone, we estimate that over 37,000 people die annually.
To put this into perspective, this means that more people die each year from sepsis than from lung cancer, and from breast and bowel cancer combined.
In the USA, around 750,000 people die each year from sepsis. This number is probably mirrored in Europe and Australasia, and greatly exceeded in the developing world.
Sepsis kills millions each year worldwide.
Severe Sepsis
The presence of one or more organ system dysfunctions in the context of sepsis defines severe sepsis. These patients have a mortality rate of 35%: 7 times higher than that of Acute Coronary Syndrome. Our Screening Tools can be used to precisely identify severe sepsis
Septic Shock
Patients who have evidence of hypoperfusion (high lactate) or a persistently low blood pressure after initial fluid resuscitation have septic shock. Mortality in this group is even higher- approaching 50%.
Untreated, septic shock will lead to death. These patients must be attended immediately by the Critical Care Team. They are likely to require invasive monitoring including central venous catheters, and vaso-active drug infusions including vasopressors and inotropes.
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