Sepsis is an overactive response to an infection causing the body to damage its own organs and tissue. It is a life-threatening medical emergency that can lead to septic shock, multiple organ failure and potentially death, affecting approximately 30 million people globally every year.
Sepsis happens when an infection you already have triggers a chain reaction throughout your body. Infections that lead to sepsis most often start in the lung, urinary tract, skin, or gastrointestinal tract. Without timely treatment, sepsis can rapidly lead to tissue damage, organ failure, and death.
Sepsis is the body's extreme response to an infection. It is a life-threatening medical emergency. Sepsis happens when an infection you already have triggers a chain reaction throughout your body. Infections that lead to sepsis most often start in the lung, urinary tract, skin, or gastrointestinal tract.
This can cause vital organs to shut down. This usually starts with the kidneys. Blood pressure can drop dangerously low. This can cause less oxygen and nutrients to reach your kidneys.
Sepsis can be divided into three stages: sepsis, severe sepsis and septic shock.
Feeling tired or fatigued, having a headache, or feeling nauseous are all possible signs of an infection. Swollen lymph nodes in the armpit, groin, or neck may also be a sign that your body is under attack. Some of the possible signs are: Fever – this is sometimes the only sign of an infection.
Eventually, the CD4+ T cell population becomes so depleted that the individual starts to experience other, opportunistic, infections. This marks the beginning of the final phase, commonly known as acquired immune deficiency syndrome or AIDS, which eventually results in death.
Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)
Probably the most famous hospital-acquired infection or 'superbug', MRSA is so-called because of its resistance to the antibiotic methicillin (hence Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureas).
Convalescence. The final stage of infection is known as convalescence. During this stage, symptoms resolve, and a person can return to their normal functions. Depending on the severity of the infection, some people may have permanent damage even after the infection resolves.
Most people bounce back in seven to 10 days. "During that time, it takes the immune system three to four days to develop antibodies and fight off pesky germs," says Dr. Hasan.
Symptoms in case of acute Bacterial Infections may get resolved spontaneously in a duration of approx. two weeks, without undergoing treatment. However, in chronic cases when the symptoms persist for a longer duration, such as for 10 or more days, there is a need for the consultation with a doctor.
Resistance to even one antibiotic can mean serious problems. For example: Antimicrobial-resistant infections that require the use of second- and third-line treatments can harm patients by causing serious side effects, such as organ failure, and prolong care and recovery, sometimes for months.
"Big Three" Infectious Diseases: Tuberculosis, Malaria and HIV/AIDS.
How are antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections treated? If an infection shows signs of antibiotic resistance, your healthcare provider may try a different drug. The new drug may have more severe side effects, and trying a different antibiotic also raises the risk of developing resistance to that drug.
A person with a wound should seek medical attention if: the wound is large, deep, or has jagged edges. the edges of the wound do not stay together. symptoms of infection occur, such as fever, increasing pain or redness, or discharge from the wound.
When treatment or medical intervention is missing, sepsis is a leading cause of death, more significant than breast cancer, lung cancer, or heart attack. Research shows that the condition can kill an affected person in as little as 12 hours.
If the infection has spread or you have a generalized infection, you may develop other signs and symptoms, such as fever, fatigue, pain, etc. Sometimes however, you may have an infection and not know it, and not have any symptoms.
Patients with severe sepsis have a high ongoing mortality after severe sepsis with only 61% surviving five years. They also have a significantly lower physical QOL compared to the population norm but mental QOL scores were only slightly below population norms up to five years after severe sepsis.