World Sepsis Awareness Day 2023
Wednesday 13 September marks World Sepsis Awareness Day and forms part of a UK-wide awareness month. The day aims to raise awareness of this serious condition and the impact it can have.
What is sepsis?
Sepsis occurs when the bodies immune system overreacts in response to infection leading it to injure its own tissues and organs. Sepsis can affect anyone but it is most common in very young children, older adults and those with underlying health conditions.
According to research published in Lancet there are 49 million cases of sepsis a year worldwide with 11 million people dying after developing the condition. In the UK alone 5 people die with sepsis every hour.
What are the symptoms of sepsis?
The UK Sepsis Trust has developed an acronym to identify the following signs of sepsis:
Slurred speech or confusion
Extreme shivering or muscle pain
Passing no urine
Severe breathlessness
It feels like you’re going to die
Skin mottled or discoloured
Sepsis can however be difficult to spot as many of the symptoms are the same as other common conditions such as flu.
How is sepsis diagnosed?
Hospitals and ambulance services use early warning scores (known as NEWS or PEWS for children) to identify the severity of a patient’s illness and identify any deterioration. Most Trusts will have a sepsis screening tool which is used when the NEWS or PEWS score is raised. If this screening identifies red or amber flags, then treatment should be started, or further investigations arranged.
How is sepsis treated?
Sepsis needs to be treated quickly with antibiotics to avoid it getting worse. Depending on the symptoms other treatment may be needed including in an intensive care unit, with a ventilator or surgery to remove areas of infection.
What complications can arise?
Most people will make a full recovery from sepsis. However, if there are delays in treatment and the condition worsens the consequences can be severe. If treatment is not provided quickly it can lead to septic shock which can cause life threatening organ failure.
Post sepsis complications include feeling weak and tired, lack of appetite, getting ill more often and psychological symptoms.
At Morrish Solicitors we have seen the devastating impact sepsis can have when treatment is delayed. These ongoing awareness campaigns are therefore vital in protecting patient safety.
