Sepsis: Pathophysiology Of Sepsis

Pathophysiology of sepsis:

Sepsis is also called Septicemia and is a poisoning of the blood. This is an attack of bacteria into the bloodstream. Sepsis does not need blood poisoning to occur; it can affect multiple organs or the entire body without it happening. Sepsis is the body’s systematic inflammatory response to a bacterial infection (Jones, 2017). The infection can also have a wound or a chest infection or can be spread throughout the entire body. Sepsis’ definition is “a life-threatening condition that arises when the body’s response to infection injures its own tissues and organs” (McClelland, 2014). Sepsis is a leading cause of hospital admissions and can lead to death in hospital patients worldwide. The death rate associated with

The most important elements of the guidelines are organized into two “bundles” of care (Angus, 2013). The first “bundle” is for within the first 3 hours sepsis is suspected. The first thing you would do is measure the lactate level. The second thing is obtaining blood cultures prior to administration of prescribed antibiotics. You administer broad spectrum antibiotics in patients with septic shock. The risk of dying increases by approximately 10% for every hour of delay in receiving antibiotics. The last thing you would do for the 3 hr “bundle” is fluid resuscitation: administer 30 mL/kg crystalloid for hypotension or lactate ≥ 4mmol/L (Subtle Signs of Sepsis, 2017). The second “bundle” is for within the first 6 hours sepsis is suspected. The nurse would do the same protocol for suspected sepsis within 3 hours and continue for more advanced treatment. The next thing you would do is administer vasopressors (for hypotension that does not respond to initial fluid resuscitation) to maintain a MAP ≥ 65 mmHg. For persistent arterial hypotension despite volume resuscitation (septic shock) or initial lactate ≥ 4 mmol/L (36 mg/dL), reassess volume status and tissue perfusion and document findings. After initial fluid resuscitation, repeat focused exam, including pulse, capillary refills, vital signs, cardiopulmonary assessment, and skin (Subtle Signs of Sepsis,

Even with the ICU, the rates of in-hospital deaths from septic shock were usually more than 80%. This was just 30 years ago. Today the mortality rate is closer to 20 to 30% now. The nurses have advanced in training/technology, better monitoring, and immediate therapy to treat the infection and support failing organs (Angus, 2014). Since the death rates are decreasing, the focus is more on the recovery of the sepsis survivor. A patient who survives to hospital discharge after the diagnosis of sepsis, remains at an increased risk for death in the next following months and years. Those who are sepsis survivors often have impaired neurocognitive or physical functioning. They also have mood disorders, and a decreased quality of life (Angus, 2013). There are resources now available for pre-hospital and community settings. This will further improve timeliness of diagnosis and treatment (McClelland,