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What is it about ?
Sepsis is a generalized infection caused by a microbe, usually bacteria. ‘Sepsis’ literally means the presence of microbes (most often bacteria) in the blood.
An infection, usually serious, is the cause of sepsis. It can be, for example, an infection of the lungs (pneumonia), kidney (pyelonephritis), meninges (meningitis),… Bacteria are released into the blood (bacteremia) and spread throughout the body. This triggers a major inflammatory reaction in the body and severe symptoms (sepsis). The situation can quickly escalate. Intensive treatment in the hospital is necessary. Sepsis can indeed lead to death.
Currently, the term sepsis is also being replaced by that of “bacteremia associated with sepsis”; bacteremia meaning “circulation of bacteria in the blood” and sepsis “generalized inflammatory response, following a serious infection”.
Often, but not always, there are contributing factors, for example:
- poor general condition;
- weakened immunity;
- certain drugs (cortisone, chemotherapy …)
- certain diseases (HIV infection);
- absence of a spleen following ablation;
- small wounds, poor wound hygiene;
- chronic diseases, such as diabetes, COPD;
- tooth problems, whether or not due to poor hygiene or lack of care;
- bite of cat, dog, human being;
- alcohol abuse;
- …
How to recognize it?
Sepsis is usually the result of a poor course of an ordinary infection (urinary tract infection, respiratory tract infection or skin infection).
The development of sepsis may be suspected when the initial infection does not heal well, when symptoms suddenly worsen, or when symptoms worsen despite antibiotics.
Symptoms of sepsis may include the following:
- general feeling of being unwell, tired, weak,
- fever (> 38 ° C) or very low temperature (<36 ° C),
- chills,
- confusion,
- generalized or local pain,
- nausea or vomiting,
- fast beating heart,
- rapid breathing,
- low blood pressure (hypotension),
- small dots or small purplish-red spots (petechiae) on the skin that do not disappear under pressure,
- blue or purple spots.
How can the doctor recognize it?
The doctor will ask you questions about your symptoms, how they are progressing, what antibiotics you have already taken and how you took them. Then he will perform a thorough clinical examination. If there are any warning signs, he will immediately send you to the hospital. You will undergo additional examinations: blood test, imaging exams (x-ray …).
The blood culture (blood culture) must be done before starting an antibiotic, otherwise it will be very difficult, if not impossible, to find the germ in question. This is an essential condition for the success of the treatment! The result of the blood culture is only known after several days. In the meantime, antibiotic treatment will already be started.
What can you do ?
If an infection does not improve or if it gets worse, see the doctor. When prescribing antibiotics for you, follow their instructions carefully. Don’t skip doses, and try not to miss any. Otherwise, it may be difficult for the infection to heal. In addition, it would give bacteria the opportunity to develop resistance to the antibiotic. This means that the antibiotic would no longer be effective enough against bacteria.
If small red-purplish spots appear suddenly, and they do not disappear when you press a glass on the spots, contact your doctor immediately. It can be a sign of a serious infection.
What can your doctor do?
A sepsis is treated in the hospital, where fluids and drugs are given by infusion. We will always check if the blood pressure does not drop too much and if the organs (especially the kidneys) continue to function normally. This management may take place in intensive care.
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