A severe infection can cause sepsis, which is a life-threatening condition. The symptoms
include fever, rapid breathing, confusion, and other signs. If left untreated, it can cause
organ failure or even death.
Sepsis is common in hospitals and nursing homes, where patients often develop infections
after surgery or injury. In recent years, however, sepsis has become much more prevalent
outside of these settings. This is because of the increasing number of people who are
living longer due to advances in medicine.
Although it is important to recognize the early warning signs of sepsis, it is also crucial to
identify those at risk of developing the disease. There are several ways to screen for
sepsis, including blood tests, chest X-rays, and urine analysis.
Why do we need to treat it and how can we do it?
Sepsis is a condition where bacteria enter the bloodstream causing inflammation
throughout the body. Sepsis can occur due to many different causes including trauma,
infection, surgery, burns, and autoimmune disorders. If left untreated, sepsis can cause
organ failure and death.
The first step in treating sepsis is identifying the type of sepsis that is present. There are
two types of sepsis: systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and severe sepsis.
SIRS occurs when the immune system responds to an injury or illness.
When the immune system overreacts, it releases cytokines that trigger the release of
white blood cells. White blood cells then attack the site of the injury or illness. Severe
sepsis occurs when the immune system does not respond appropriately. Instead of
attacking the site of the injury, white blood cells begin to attack the body’s organs and
tissues.
Once the type of sepsis is identified, treatment should begin immediately. Treatment for
sepsis includes fluid resuscitation, antibiotic therapy, and vasopressor therapy. Fluid
resuscitation involves giving fluids intravenously to replace lost fluids and maintain
adequate circulation.
Antibiotic therapy is given to kill off any bacteria that may have caused the sepsis.
Vasopressors are medications that increase blood pressure to help the heart pump blood
around the body.
What are the leading treatments for Sepsis?
1. Antibiotics
Antibiotics are drugs that kill bacteria. When antibiotics are given to patients who have
septicemia (blood poisoning), they help prevent death. However, if not treated properly,
antibiotics can cause side effects such as diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, abdominal pain,
headache, dizziness, confusion, skin rash, and allergic reactions.
2. Vasopressors
Vasopressors are medications that increase blood pressure. These medications are often
used to treat shock caused by septicemia. If the patient’s blood pressure drops below
90/60 mmHg, vasopressors may be necessary.
3. Dialysis
Dialysis is a treatment where toxins are removed from the body using a machine. In
dialysis, the patient’s blood is pumped through a filter called a hemodialyzer. The
hemodialyzer removes toxins from the blood.
4. Hemodialysis
Hemodialysis is a type of dialysis where the patient’s blood is passed through a hollow
fiber membrane. Blood flows through the hollow fibers while dialysate flows around them.
As the blood passes through the membrane, toxins diffuse out of the blood and into the
dialysate. After passing through the membrane, the purified blood is returned to the
patient.
5. Peritoneal Dialysis
Peritoneal dialysis is a procedure where the patient’s peritoneum is used as a filtration
system. A catheter is inserted into the abdomen and fluid is drained from the abdomen.
The fluid is then filtered and returned to the bloodstream.
6. Continuous Veno-Venous Haemo-dialysis
Continuous veno-venous haemo-dialysis is a method of removing toxins from the blood. A
needle is placed in the vein near the heart, and a tube is connected to the needle. Blood is
drawn from the vein and sent through a machine that filters the blood. The cleansed blood
is returned to the vein.
7. Continuous Veno-Arterio-Venous Haemo -dialysis
Continuous arterio-venous haemo -dialysis is similar to continuous veno-venous
hemofiltration except that the blood is taken from an artery instead of a vein.
If you require sepsis treatment, contact the best hospital to consult general physician in
Coimbatore.
Methods to prevent Sepsis
1. Antibiotics
Antibiotics are medications that kill bacteria. They are commonly prescribed for people
who have been diagnosed with bacterial infections. Antibiotics are often given before
surgery to prevent infection. Antibiotics are also sometimes used to treat viral infections.
2. Steroids
In the body, steroids are hormones that are naturally produced. These hormones regulate
many different bodily processes including reproduction, growth, and immune system
function. Steroid use is most commonly associated with athletes looking to enhance their
performance. Steroids are also sometimes prescribed to help patients suffering from
certain types of cancer.
3. Proteins
Proteins are chains of amino acids. Proteins are built from amino acids. Amino acids come
in 20 different types. Proteins are used to build muscles, organs, skin, hair, nails, bones,
blood, and other parts of the human body.
4. Vitamins
Vitamins are organic compounds that are necessary for normal growth and development.
Vitamins are either water-soluble or fat-soluble. Water-soluble vitamins dissolve easily in
water while fat-soluble vitamins dissolve in oil. Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin.
5. Minerals
Minerals are non-living elements that are found in rocks. Minerals are important for proper
bone formation, muscle contraction, nerve transmission, and hormone production. Minerals
are also important for regulating body temperature.
Final Thoughts about Sepsis in young’s.
If a patient presents with flu-like symptoms, fever, chills, cough, shortness of breath,
diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain, confusion, delirium, or hypotension, then they may
have sepsis. However, these symptoms alone do not always indicate sepsis. A general medicine doctor will need to perform a physical exam, order lab tests, and review medical records to determine whether or not a person has sepsis.