We have days celebrating and raising awareness for diabetes, asthma, AIDS, breast cancer awareness and so on, of course we can’t forget dedicating a day for sepsis. Affecting approximately 18 million individuals worldwide, sepsis deserves to be known among the public with proper education on what it is, signs to look out for and the ways to prevent such fatal complications from happening.
World Sepsis Day is an initiative developed by the Global Sepsis Alliance (GSA), a non-profit charity organization with the motive to provide global leadership in combating the worldwide burden of sepsis and to shed light on the serious consequences this complication may bring. It is celebrated annually on the 13th of September where supporters from all around the globe come together and organize events to raise awareness for sepsis.
Image credit: World Sepsis Day Organization
What is Sepsis?
Sepsis is a life-threatening medical condition that arises when the body’s response to an infection harms its own tissues and organs. It is the body’s extreme response to an infection whereby the entire system will go into inflammation mode instead of just local inflammation. To date, sepsis is the number one leading cause of preventable deaths from infection worldwide, despite numerous medical advancements in modern medicine such as antibiotics, vaccinations and acute, intensive care made available.
Sepsis is concerning because it may cause shock, multi-organ failure or even worse, death if not recognized early and treated right away. According to the GSA, it is thought to be the final common pathway to death from various infectious diseases, including the recent prevalent viral infections, SARS-CoV-2/ COVID-19.
Why is sepsis not widely known?
We usually hear people passing away due to infections instead of sepsis although more often than not it is due to sepsis. For example, if someone dies of sepsis due to pneumonia (lung infection), the cause of death would be listed as pneumonia instead of sepsis. Owing to the reason that sepsis is rarely brought up by the healthcare professionals, most people think it isn’t a problem. This is where World Sepsis Day comes into play to raise awareness among the common public so preventable actions can be taken to be ahead of sepsis.
Causes of Sepsis
Generally, sepsis is caused by infection by most microorganisms including bacteria, viruses, fungi and even parasites. It may also be caused by infections from seasonal influenza viruses, dengue viruses as well as highly transmissible pathogens such as Ebola virus, yellow fever viruses and swine influenza viruses.
Who is prone to Sepsis?
Everyone is at risk of sepsis, regardless of age, physical health status or living condition. However, people who are at an higher risk are:
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Children under the age of 1
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Adults age 60 or older
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People with weakened immune system (immunocompromised), e.g. AIDS, organ transplant patients, diabetes, cancer
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People with chronic diseases, e.g. lung, liver, heart, kidney disease
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People with recent severe illness or hospitalization
How do I know if I have Sepsis?
Sepsis typically manifest itself as the clinical deterioration of an infection or diseases which will be reflected on blood test results or through the presentation of some visible signs such as:
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Slurred speech or confusion
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Extreme shivering or muscle pain, fever
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Passing no urine all day
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Severe breathlessness
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It feels like you’re going to die
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Skin mottled or discolored
Sepsis is a medical emergency and its survival rate depends largely on the time taken to treat the infection that leads to sepsis. In the event where you have a confirmed or suspected infection and are experiencing any of these symptoms, it is strongly encouraged that you seek immediate medical care from the nearest hospital to be assessed.
Image credit: World Sepsis Day Organization
ACT FAST - EVERY MINUTE COUNTS!
In detrimental cases where hospital admission in warranted, your attending physician will apply the Sepsis Six rule which are:
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Supplying oxygen to normalise your blood oxygen levels
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Obtain blood cultures for appropriate antibiotics prescribing
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Administer broad spectrum IV antibiotics
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Start intravenous fluid resuscitation
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Check lactate levels timely
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Monitor urine output by the hour
Steps to Prevent Sepsis
Being the number one cause of preventable death worldwide, it is crucial for us to be aware of the steps that may help prevent sepsis from happening. The best way to prevent sepsis is to prevent infection in the first place, which can be done by:
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Getting vaccinated with the mandatory vaccination
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Using only clean water for daily functioning
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Practice strict hand hygiene
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Preventing hospital-acquired infections (HAIs)
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Safe childbirth
Written by Janelle Leong, Bpharm(Hons);
Medically reviewed by Nur Ariffin, MBBS UniSZA
References:
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Sepsis - World Sepsis Day Org 2022. Available at https://www.worldsepsisday.org/sepsis Accessed on 12th September 2022
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Sepsis - World Sepsis Day Org 2022. Available at https://www.worldsepsisday.org/sepsisfaq Accessed on 12th September 2022
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World Sepsis Day 2021 - Stop Sepsis Save Lives. Available at https://www.medindia.net/news/healthwatch/world-sepsis-day-2021-stop-sepsis-save-lives-203256-1.htm Accessed on 12th September 2022
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Get Ahead of Sepsis Infographic - CDC. Available athttps://www.cdc.gov/sepsis/pdfs/Consumer_fact-sheet_protect-yourself-and-your-family-P.pdf Accessed on 12th September 2022
