Article

Sepsis

Anyone can get an infection and infections can lead to sepsis. Knowing the signs is vital to save millions of lives every year.

Antimicrobial resistance

What is sepsis?

Sepsis is a medical emergency that describes the body’s systemic immunological response to an infectious process that can lead to life-threatening organ dysfunction and death. Symptoms of sepsis can be unspecific, leading to delayed diagnosis, which in turn results in poor patient outcomes. If left undiagnosed, sepsis can progress into septic shock- a dramatic drop in blood pressure that can lead to organ dysfunction and death. Despite significant advancements in the understanding of the pathophysiology of this clinical syndrome and patient management, sepsis remains one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality in critically ill patients.²Sepsis is a major global healthcare threat associated with severe disease burden, including high economic costs and health outcomes impact. With 49 million cases worldwide each year, its impact on human life and healthcare systems is staggering.²

Sepsis affected ~50 million people in 2017 and accounted for 11 million deaths worldwide¹

Nearly half of sepsis cases occurred among children leading to 2.9 million global deaths in children under five years of age¹

Approximately 85% of sepsis cases and sepsis-related deaths worldwide occurred in low- and middle-income countries¹

Sepsis and septic shock causes

Sepsis and septic shock have a multitude of causal factors, some weidling more prominent than others. The largest contributors to sepsis cases and sepsis-related deaths were:

Lower respiratory tract infections (e.g. Pneumonia): Infections like pneumonia frequently serve as a point of origin for sepsis. The lungs, vital for oxygenation, are susceptible to invading microorganisms capable of inciting a septic response.
Bloodstream infections (including Staphylococcus aureus, malaria, typhoid paratyphoid): Pathogens traveling through the circulatory system increasing risk of infection
Maternal-neonatal infections: The neonatal period, within the first four weeks of life, presents a high-risk scenario for infections. Neonatal sepsis, emerging as a bloodstream infection, demands vigilant monitoring and swift intervention to avert dire consequences.
Urinary tract infection: urinary tract infections can increase the risk of sepsis particularly when left unaddressed, making time to diagnosis critical.
Gastrointestinal/diarrheal infections: When infected, the gastrointestinal tract, containing microbial ecosystems, can lead to severe sepsis and septic shock if left undiagnosed and treated.

Signs and symptoms of sepsis

High heart rate or weak pulse
Confusion or disorientation
Extreme pain or discomfort
Fever, shivering, or feeling very cold
Shortness of breath
Clammy or sweaty skin

What are sepsis risk factors?

Sepsis is most likely to develop in immunocompromised, pediatric, and elderly populations; or those who have an indwelling medical device or catheter. Sepsis rates are on the rise because of a rising elderly population, increased longevity of individuals with chronic diseases such as cancer, technological advances in medicine that lead to more frequent use of invasive medical devices, and the extensive use of antibiotics.³

Older persons
Pregnant or recently pregnant women
Neonates
People with no spleen
People with autoimmune diseases

People with HIV/AIDS
People with kidney disease
People with cancer
Patients in intensive care units
Hospitalized patients
People with liver cirrhosis

Sepsis is one of the leading causes of death in neonates and we need to do more to prevent the heartache that this brings to many families around the world.

Matt Sause, CEO of Roche Diagnostics⁴

Neonatal sepsis: a critical-risk group

Neonatal sepsis is an infection involving the bloodstream within the first four weeks of life and results in high rates of morbidity and mortality. Neonatal sepsis can initially present with subtle signs, but can rapidly progress to multisystem organ failure. Early detection and prompt intervention are essential to prevent severe and life-threatening complications.

The first 28 days of life (the neonatal period) are the most vulnerable time for child survival. Every year, an estimated 2.5 million neonates die in their first month of life, accounting for nearly one-half of deaths in children under 5 years of age. An estimated 375 000 neonatal deaths due to sepsis occurred globally in 2018, which represented 15% of all neonatal deaths, making sepsis one of the leading causes of newborn death.⁵

The prognosis of neonatal sepsis depends on early recognition and appropriate treatment, although signs and symptoms are often nonspecific and may overlap with those of other severe conditions, such as meningitis and pneumonia. These clinical signs include respiratory distress and cyanosis, apnoea, feeding difficulties, lethargy or irritability, and poor perfusion.

Prevention

Effective sepsis and septic shock prevention is possible. You can take the following steps to help reduce your risk of sepsis

Prevent infections

Take care of chronic conditions and get the recommended vaccinations to help prevent some infections.

Know the signs

If in doubt of your symptoms seek a medical assessment.

Good hygiene

Wash your hands and keep cuts or wounds clean and protected.

Act fast

Sepsis is a medical emergency. If you have an infection and are getting worse seek medical care immediately. Diagnostic tests can help determine the type of infection and best treatment options.

Time is of the essence

Prompt diagnosis and treatment are of utmost importance when diagnosing and treating sepsis. Whether symptoms manifest at home or within a clinical setting, prompt action can be the difference between life and death. Although severe sepsis is deadly, with prompt treatment, many people with sepsis recover completely and return to leading normal lives.

Each location along the journey offers opportunities for:

Screening

Should a patient be assessed for sepsis?

Diagnosis

Does a patient have sepsis?

Treatment

- Source control

- Antimicrobials

- Immunomodulation

Prognosis

Where does a patient go next?

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References

Rudd KE, et al. Lancet. 2020;395(10219):200-211
Gyawali, B.; Ramakrishna, K.; Dhamoon, AS. (2019). Sepsis: The evolution in definition, pathophysiology, and management. SAGE Open Med.
https:/www.global-sepsis-alliance.org/sepsis
https://www.roche.com/media/releases/med-cor-2023-10-18b
Fleischmann-Struzek, C., Goldfarb, D. M., Schlattmann, P., Schlapbach, L. J., & Reinhart, K. (2018). The global burden of pediatric and neonatal sepsis: a systematic review. The Lancet Respiratory Medicine, 6(3), 223-230.