What is Sepsis?
Watch to learn more about this silent killer
NYSOFA's Director Olsen Stresses Importance of Recognizing SEPSIS Symptoms
Background on Sepsis
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), sepsis is the body’s extreme response to an infection. It occurs when an infection you already have triggers a chain reaction throughout your body. Most cases of sepsis start before a patient goes to the hospital. Infections that lead to sepsis most often start in the lung, urinary tract, skin, or gastrointestinal tract.
It is a life-threatening medical emergency. Without timely treatment, sepsis can rapidly lead to tissue damage, organ failure, and death. In a typical year throughout the United States:
- At least 1.7 million adults will develop sepsis.
- At least 350,000 adults who develop sepsis die during their hospitalization or are discharged to hospice.
- 1 in 3 people who dies in a hospital had sepsis during that hospitalization
Risk Factors
While anyone can develop Sepsis, the New York State Department of Health (DOH) says those at higher risk include:
- Adults 65 years of age or older
- Children younger than one year of age
- People with weakened immune systems
- People with chronic medical conditions, such as diabetes, lung disease, cancer, or kidney disease
- People with recent severe illness or hospitalization
- People who have had sepsis before
How Someone Can identify Sepsis
It’s crucial you get medical care right away if you have an infection that is not getting better or getting worse. The CDC says a person with sepsis might have one or more of the signs or symptoms:
- High heart rate or weak pulse
- Confusion or disorientation
- Extreme pain or discomfort
- Fever, shivering, or feeling very cold
- Shortness of breath
- Clammy or sweaty skin
Sepsis and New York State
New York State has long led in sepsis prevention and intervention efforts, including Rory’s Regulations. In response to the tragic death of Rory Staunton, New York State was the first in the nation to establish a statewide mandate requiring all hospitals to adopt sepsis protocols. The protocols were designed to improve rapid identification and treatment of sepsis.
Additionally, New York and Home Care Association of New York State (HCA) implemented a first-in-the-nation sepsis screening tool and protocol for home care clinicians. Learn more about this tool on the HCA website: https://hca-nys.org/stop-sepsis-at-home/.
Links to Resources
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention