What is Sepsis?
Sepsis is a rare complication of a disease or infection, but it can be very dangerous for the body. When an infection occurs, the body will produce various chemical compounds to fight the infection.
However, the body’s immune system fights the infection excessively and uncontrollably. As a result, it causes a series of changes in body function, even causing damage to various organ systems.
Symptoms of Sepsis
Symptoms of sepsis usually appear after a body part experiences an infection or injury. Symptoms can include:
- Respiratory rate more than 20 times per minute.
- Body temperature above 38.3 degrees Celsius or even below 36 degrees Celsius.
- Heart rate more than 90 beats per minute.
Meanwhile, sepsis in toddlers must be watched out for if it causes the following indications:
- No appetite.
- Vomiting accompanied by blood.
- No bowel movements for 12 hours.
- Grumpy.
If sepsis is not dealt with immediately, it will get worse, so it can cause organ failure, such as:
- Severe muscle pain.
- Stomach ache.
- Faint.
- Blood pressure drops drastically.
- The skin becomes cold and pale.
- Decreased urine output and frequency of urination.
Risk Factors for Sepsis
Here are a number of factors that can increase the risk of sepsis:
- An infection that is not treated or that has spread throughout the body.
- People over the age of 65 are at higher risk because their immune systems may be weakened.
- People with chronic diseases, such as diabetes, liver disease, or lung disease.
- Individuals undergoing immunosuppressive treatment, for example after an organ transplant.
- People who have cancer because they have a weaker immune system.
- The use of medical devices such as urinary catheters, ventilators, or long-term IV lines can be a gateway for infections that can potentially lead to sepsis.
- Burns, major wounds, or injuries requiring medical intervention can increase the risk of infection which can then progress to sepsis.
- Excessive alcohol consumption or use of illegal drugs can weaken the immune system and increase the risk of sepsis.
- Hospitalized patients, especially those in intensive care units (ICUs), are more susceptible to sepsis due to greater exposure to infections and invasive medical procedures.
- Infection during pregnancy, labor, or postpartum can increase the risk of sepsis in both mother and baby.
Causes of Sepsis
Types of infections caused by sepsis include pneumonia, infections of the inner lining of the stomach, appendicitis, urinary tract infections, post-operative infections, meningitis, bone infections, and heart infections.
Meanwhile, risk factors for sepsis can occur in anyone who experiences an infection, such as:
- Pregnant mother.
- Babies, children, and seniors.
- Having a long-term illness.
- People who use medical devices.
- People with wounds.
- Having a serious illness that requires frequent hospitalization.
How to Diagnose Sepsis
How to diagnose sepsis requires a clinical evaluation by a doctor. Here are some steps to diagnose sepsis:
- The doctor will ask about the patient’s symptoms, medical history, and risk factors.
- Next, the doctor will need to perform a physical examination to look for signs of infection, such as fever, increased heart rate, rapid breathing, or low blood pressure.
- Doctors may perform blood tests to measure the number of white blood cells (to see the immune response), organ function (such as the kidneys and liver), and blood lactate levels (to detect metabolic imbalances).
- In addition to blood tests, doctors can perform blood cultures to detect the presence of bacteria or other microorganisms that can cause infection.
- To help establish a diagnosis, the doctor may perform other tests to look for the presence of infection in certain parts of the body, such as urine tests for urinary tract infections, sputum for lung infections, or other body fluids.
- Your doctor may also order imaging tests, such as a chest X-ray to check for infection in the lungs, or a CT scan or MRI to look for infection in certain areas of the body that may not be visible during a regular physical exam.
- Then the doctor will calculate the sepsis score and assessment scale. The use of scales such as qSOFA (Quick Sequential Organ Failure Assessment) or SOFA to assess the severity of sepsis based on vital signs and organ function.
Sepsis Treatment
The potential for sepsis to be cured will be greater if detected as early as possible. If sepsis has not spread to vital organs, sepsis sufferers can recover completely by undergoing antibiotic treatment at home.
However, for people with severe sepsis, they must undergo treatment in the intensive care unit or ICU, so that vital organs can be supported with the help of medical equipment while the infection is being treated.
Complications of Sepsis
Sepsis can lead to a variety of serious complications because the body’s response to infection can damage tissues and organs.
Here are some potential complications that can occur due to sepsis:
- Septic shock. Untreated or severe sepsis can lead to septic shock, a condition in which blood pressure drops drastically, reducing blood flow to vital organs and potentially leading to organ failure.
- Organ failure. Sepsis can cause damage to major organs such as the heart, lungs, kidneys, and liver. This organ failure can be temporary or permanent, depending on the extent of the damage.
- Loss of a limb. If gangrene (tissue death due to lack of blood flow) occurs, amputation may be necessary to prevent the spread of infection.
- Blood clotting disorders. Sepsis can cause blood clots in small blood vessels throughout the body, which can disrupt normal blood flow and damage tissue. This condition is called disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) and can cause severe bleeding.
- Secondary infections. Patients with sepsis are at higher risk for additional infections due to their compromised immune systems.
- Long-term immune dysfunction. Some people who survive sepsis may have long-term immune system disorders, making them more susceptible to future infections.
- Mental and emotional problems. Sepsis survivors may experience cognitive impairment, memory problems, anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
- Systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS). This condition is similar to sepsis and involves inflammation throughout the body, but is not always caused by infection.
- Long-term organ dysfunction. Some patients may experience long-term organ dysfunction even after recovery from acute infection.
How to Prevent Sepsis
Take the following steps to prevent sepsis:
- Make it a habit to wash your hands to prevent the transfer and accumulation of microbes.
- Consume nutritious and highly nutritious foods to optimize the functioning of the immune system.
- Make sure food is properly prepared to eliminate microbes.
- Treat wounds well to avoid infection.
- Clean tables or frequently touched areas with disinfectant to kill microbes.