Sepsis remains a major cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. What exactly is sepsis? It is a dysregulated host response to infection, and it is estimated to afflict over 48.9 million people a year worldwide, leading to death in approximately 11 million. We all know that the early detection of sepsis is critical since interventions such as fluid resuscitation, antibiotic …
Last week we discussed the risks of sepsis in residents with pneumonia, but did you know that urinary tract infections (UTI) can often lead to sepsis as well? Although UTIs are common infections in even healthy adults, not all UTIs are treated quickly and can spread to the kidney, causing pain and severe illness. When this happens, the resident is …
Yep, here we are again, in the throws of another difficult respiratory illness season! Hopefully you and yours are prepared, are taking precautions and are up to date with your vaccinations! There is a lot of controversy regarding vaccinations, I get it, that said, many of our frail elders will not survive this flu season without these vaccines. As a …
Sepsis is the body’s overwhelming and life-threatening response to infection, which can lead to tissue damage, organ failure, and death. While sepsis can impact anyone, including the sick, and people of all ages, some groups are more likely to be affected including older adults and those with weakened immune systems. What are the signs of sepsis? A person with sepsis …
Sepsis is a word every healthcare provider fears, it sends chills up your spine, right? We have been trained to be alert to signs and symptoms of sepsis and follow the recommendations of the CDC. That said, there are many experts in the field of infectious disease who disagree with the quality measure known as “Severe Sepsis and Septic Shock: …
In 2013 the National Quality Foundation (NQF) endorsed the Severe Sepsis and Septic Shock: Management Bundle (SEP-1) and it was implemented by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) in October 2015, requiring emergency rooms to follow the process. The measure has seven basic elements that guide clinicians in the treatment of patients brought to the emergency room with …
We all know our residents are at a higher risk for sepsis due to compromised immune systems and comorbidities, but what if we could prevent even one case of sepsis? Recently, 10 post-acute care independent facilities in New York state initiated a sepsis quality improvement program with amazing results! Overall, sepsis hospitalizations in this group decreased by 22.8% with a …
In October 2015, Medicare initiated a requirement that all hospitals report their adherence to the Severe Sepsis and Septic Shock Early Management Bundle (SEP-1). The SEP-1 is also referred to as the “hour-1 bundle” that encourages clinicians to act as quickly as possible to obtain blood cultures, administer broad spectrum antibiotics, start appropriate fluid resuscitation, measure lactate, and begin vasopressors …
Sepsis is defined as a severe condition derived from a primary infection site. In patients with sepsis, as a rule, a primary infected focus should be investigated, and treatment must be performed in accordance with the site of infection and condition. As the most important point, physicians must consider the start of antimicrobial chemotherapy for sepsis, fatal organ failure, in …
Sepsis is a life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection that can be bacterial, fungal, protozoal, or viral in origin, including the virus that causes COVID-19 infection. SARS-CoV-2 infections frequently leads to organ dysfunction that is similar to that seen in forms of sepsis and other pathogenic organisms. There are clinically relevant differences between manifestations of …
