Sepsis is a feared topic for patients and providers alike. It is also one of the more misunderstood topics by patients. Sepsis is a systemic (full body) response to an infection. For instance, if you have burning when you urinate, that would be a urinary tract infection. Add in a fever, chills, fast heart rate you now have sepsis from that UTI.
Sepsis criteria: A identified or suspected sorts of infection & 2 of the following:
- Temp > 100.4
- Heart rate > 90
- Respiratory rate > 20
- White Blood Count < 4 or > 12
There are other criteria used for sepsis such as qSOFA, CURB-65. These were created in population studies to calculate mortality risk. Sepsis is important to recognize and begin treatment early. With time goes the opportunity to intervene and the increase risk of death.
Treatment involves antibiotics to cover the suspected sources as soon as possible and intravenous fluids to increase one’s blood volume before the blood pressure falls.
One of the major issues with sepsis from a patient perspective is that a single term encompassing a wide spectrum of illness. This is partially related to how money has become involved in healthcare. The government pays hospitals more money to take care of septic patients as they require more resources; this makes sense. However, what it is led to is every person who can squeeze into the criteria to being labeled “septic” to increase reimbursement. A patient can have a bloodstream staph infection on death’s door or home with a cold with a low-grade temperature and quick pulse. They are both septic. This is why it takes a provider to recognize and treat the degree of illness. Everything being sepsis is analogous to having a fear of every kitten or house cat because you’re only understanding of cats are lions and tigers. The broad generalization removes nuance.
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