Could it be sepsis? Awareness is crucial

If we think for a moment about what getting sick looks like, we would probably think of an external factor, like a virus, invading the body and causing damage. 

In most cases, the body’s immune system responds and fights off that infection. 

With sepsis, your body responds to an infection by damaging vital organs leading to shock and sometimes death.  

Like stroke or heart attack, sepsis is a medical emergency that requires rapid diagnosis and treatment.  

Latrobe Regional Health (LRH) Infectious Diseases Physician, Dr Zaal Meher-Homji said more than 80 per cent of sepsis cases start in the community, not in hospitals. 

“Sepsis can be triggered by a bacterial or viral infection such as a urinary tract infection (UTI), lung infection or from a wound. If the infection breaks out of the initial area of infection it can get into the blood stream and infect other organs,” Dr  Meher-Homji said.  

“While anyone can develop sepsis, we know that some groups are more  susceptible such as older community members, newborn children, people who live in regional areas, indigenous Australians and people with complex health conditions. These are the more high-risk groups that we are particularly concerned about.” As part of its ongoing staff education LRH has introduced an ‘adult sepsis pathway’ process to improve early identification of at-risk patients and ensure treatment is provided where needed. 

“We’re encouraging all of our nursing and medical staff to ask the question: ‘Could it be sepsis?’ And if it is, to begin treatment quickly,” LRH Quality and Safety Officer, Bec Wittmer said. 

“One of the issues is that sepsis is difficult to diagnose. A patient can present with symptoms which can be quite mild and not immediately suggest a serious condition. Also, the symptoms can be similar to those seen in other conditions. However, when placed together, those previously mild symptoms can be a sign of Sepsis which can have a very serious impact including death.” 

Some symptoms of sepsis include fast breathing or breathlessness, fever and chills, low body temperature, fast heartbeat, nausea and vomiting, fatigue, confusion or sleepiness. The patient may also be in pain or express they are ‘feeling worse than ever’. 

“While we’re working with staff to keep on top of sepsis diagnosis and treatment, we’d also encourage the community to be on the lookout for it and seek medical treatment if concerned,” Bec said. 

“In the meantime, doing things to lower the risk such as practicing good hand hygiene, monitoring wounds for signs of infection like redness or swelling, keeping up to date with vaccinations and if you are concerned, getting medical treatment and asking the doctor whether it could be sepsis,  are all good steps to take. “More information about sepsis can be found at the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care website: https://bit.ly/4dCd8oN  

To see a short video featuring Bec and Zaal talking about sepsis click here.

Pictured: LRH Quality and Safety Officer, Bec Wittmer and LRH Infectious Diseases Physician, Dr Zaal Meher-Homji