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In
simple terms, “Sepsis” is a severe illness caused by infection in the
body. The infection leading
to sepsis may begin from any site of infection with common sources
including urinary tract infection, pneumonia, or open wounds such as
bedsores, cellulitus, etc.
"Bacteremia" is closely related to sepsis as it
is simply an infection in the blood. "Septicemia" is likewise
another name for a blood infection. If
appropriate and timely measures are not taken to prevent the development
of sepsis or bacteremia, and to treat it once it manifests itself, patients’ lives are
unnecessarily put at risk.
Statistics
The
incidence of sepsis, and septic shock (hypotension or multiple organ
system failure resulting from sepsis) has been increasing since the 1930s,
and recent evidence indicates this trend will continue.
Septic shock is the most common cause of death in intensive care
units, and ranks as the 13th most common cause of death in the
United States. The exact
number of deaths attributable to sepsis is not known; however, it is
estimated that each year there are 400,000 bouts of sepsis in the United
States, 200,000 cases of septic shock, and 100,000 deaths from the
disease.
Signs and Symptoms
The
signs and symptoms of sepsis and septic shock usually arise in three ways.
First, the underlying source of infection will usually exhibit its
own indicators. If a patient
has a urinary tract infection, for instance, the patient may experience
flank pain and difficulty urinating.
A bedsore may show inflammation, redness, and infection.
Second, the body’s response to the infection often results in
fever, shaking chills, changes in mental status, and/or rapid respiratory
rate. Finally, the body will
show signs of shock resulting from the sepsis, including hypotension,
lactic academia, and progressive organ system dysfunction.
Examples of Malpractice
If
a healthcare provider fails to prevent or treat the underlying source of
infection, sepsis, septicemia, bacteremia, and/or septic shock can result. Given that infection can arise in many contexts, it is beyond
the scope of this article to address every type of malpractice which can
lead to otherwise preventable sepsis-related deaths.
By way of example, however, too often improper catheter care in
nursing homes result in otherwise preventable urinary tract infections
which develop into sepsis. Likewise,
too often patients are permitted to develop bedsores (also known as
pressure sores or decubitus ulcers) which become infected and place the
patient at risk for sepsis. Once
infection has developed, failing to timely treat known infections with
aggressive and proper antibiotic therapy can result in an otherwise
treatable infection developing into sepsis, septic shock,
septicemia
and/or bacteremia.
What You Can Do
If
you believe that a healthcare provider may have negligently allowed as
loved one to develop a life-threatening infection
from any source, contact a
medical malpractice attorney with experience handling medical malpractices
involving sepsis-related issues. As in any medical malpractice case, you should not delay in
having your case reviewed because statutes of limitation limit the amount
of time one has to bring a claim. Depending
on the facts of the case, these statutes of limitations and exceptions can
be very complex and uncertain. To
avoid having a claim barred by the statute of limitations, one should
never delay in seeking the consultation of an experienced medical
malpractice attorney to review the merits of the claim.
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