September is Sepsis Awareness Month. To help raise awareness of this life threatening condition and the importance of spotting it early, we have prepared a Q&A to help you understand what sepsis is, the warning signs to look out for and how sepsis is recognised and treated.
Q: What is sepsis?
A: Sepsis is a life-threatening reaction to an infection. It happens when your immune system overreacts to an infection and starts to damage your body's own tissues and organs (NHS Definition).
Q: What causes sepsis?
A: Sepsis can develop from bacterial, viral or fungal infections. Common types of infection include:
- Chest infections
- Urinary tract infections
- Abdomen infections
- Skin, soft tissue infections
Q: What are the symptoms of sepsis?
A: Sepsis can be hard to spot because symptoms often resemble other conditions, such as flu or a chest infection. Sepsis can be especially hard to recognise in babies, young children or people who have difficulty communicating.
Signs of sepsis in adults (remember the acronym “SEPSIS”):
Slurred speech or confusion
Extreme shivering or muscle pain
Passing no urine (in a day)
Severe breathlessness
It feels like you’re going to die
Skin mottled or discoloured
Q: What are the signs of sepsis in children?
A: Signs of sepsis in children include very fast breathing, having a ‘fit’ or convulsion, skin that is mottled, bluish or unusually pale, a rash that doesn’t fade when you press it, lethargy or difficulty waking and feeling abnormally cold to touch.
Q: What should I do if I suspect sepsis?
A: If you suspect that someone has sepsis (if they have one of more of the sepsis symptoms), call 999 or attend your local hospital’s Emergency Department without delay. If you’re concerned about an infection, call 111, or contact your GP.
Q: How is sepsis diagnosed?
A: Early recognition of sepsis is crucial. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines highlight this and encourage prompt assessment and appropriate action in medical settings such as GP surgeries, hospitals, ambulances and other care settings.
NHS clinicians use a scoring tool called NEWS2 (National Early Warning Score 2) to recognise when a patient’s condition is deteriorating, including the early signs of sepsis.
Q: How is sepsis treated?
A: The first hour after sepsis is identified is known as the “golden hour”. During this time, prompt treatment, especially the administration of antibiotics can be lifesaving.
Treatment is guided by the Sepsis 6 care bundle which is recommended by the UK Sepsis Trust to be delivered within the “golden hour”.
Q: What is The Sepsis 6?
A: Six urgent steps which should be carried out within the first hour of recognising sepsis:
- Call for senior clinical help
- Give oxygen if required
- Send a full set of blood tests
- Give IV antibiotics (or antifungals)
- Give IV fluids
- Make a clear plan for ongoing monitoring
Q: What happens if sepsis is missed or diagnosis is delayed?
A delay in recognising or treating sepsis can result in serious harm or death. Long term complications of sepsis can include organ failure, amputations and cognitive problems.
See part 3 of our Sepsis blog series for more information…
Q: Can I make a claim?
A: If you or a loved one have suffered harm as a result of a failure to recognise or properly manage sepsis, you may have grounds to bring a claim for clinical negligence. This could apply where:
- Warning signs of sepsis were present but ignored.
- Protocols (such as the Sepsis 6) were not followed.
- There was an avoidable delay in diagnosis and/or treatment.
Get in Touch
Our specialist team has vast experience in dealing with accident claims and clinical negligence actions. We believe in using that expertise to ensure we advise and support you in a sympathetic and professional manner, to make pursuing a claim as easy as possible for you and your family. We understand and appreciate the effects of an injury or harm resulting from negligence can be devastating physically, emotionally and financially.
Speak to Lucy Allen by calling 0121 2367388 or by emailing lucy.allen@mfgsolicitors.com.
Comments