Learn the facts about sepsis during Sepsis Awareness Month

ELIZABETHTOWN, KY (Sept. 19, 2024) – Every year, over 1.7 million adults develop sepsis in America, with over 350,00 dying from the condition. With September being Sepsis Awareness Month, Baptist Health Hardin encourages the community to take time to learn about this serious condition which can affect anyone.

Though often called blood poisoning, sepsis is actually the body’s dysfunctional response to infection, which can result in damage to organs and sometimes, death.

Sepsis can be caused by any type of infection, from an everyday bug bite or minor abrasion to more severe infections such as urinary tract infections (UTIs), pneumonia or meningitis. The infection can be bacterial, viral, fungal or parasitic. Some people have a higher risk of developing sepsis, including children and the elderly, people with chronic or serious illnesses such as diabetes and cancer, and those who have impaired immune systems.

Because the symptoms of sepsis can mimic symptoms for other conditions, people often do not recognize the possibility of sepsis. The Sepsis Alliance recommends the memory aid “T-I-M-E” to detect the signs of sepsis.

• Temperature: higher or lower than normal
• Infection: may have signs and symptoms of an infection (UTI, pneumonia, infected cut, etc.)
• Mental decline: confused, sleepy, difficult to rouse
• Extremely ill: severe pain, discomfort, shortness of breath, elevated heart rate or heart palpitations

If you suspect sepsis, it’s critical to seek medical attention. “Sepsis needs to be treated as soon as possible; it will not go away on its own,” said Darin Life, sepsis coordinator at Baptist Health Hardin. “The quicker it is treated, the less chance there will be of long-term and lasting effects. Sepsis can be compared to being on a canoe on a slow-moving river. You need to get back to where you put in, but the farther down the river you go, the harder it is to get back to where you started.”

Life said that even patients who overcome sepsis may experience long-term effects. In addition to potential kidney, liver or heart damage, people can also develop post-sepsis syndrome (PSS). Patients with more serious cases of sepsis requiring hospitalizations are at higher risk for PSS.

PSS affects up to 50% of sepsis survivors, according to the Sepsis Alliance. It can include a wide range of physical or physiological effects including insomnia, extreme fatigue, shortness of breath, muscle or joint pain, swelling, hallucinations, panic attacks, depression, impaired focus, memory loss and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among others.

There are three actions you can take to decrease your risk of developing sepsis.

1. Get Vaccinated: Preventing conditions such as the flu, COVID-19, chicken pox, and other contagious illnesses can eliminate your body’s need to respond to them in potentially extreme ways.
2. Treat wounds and infections promptly: Anything from a cut on your finger to a UTI should be treated. The sooner these infections are addressed, the less likely you are to sepsis.
3. Practice good hygiene: Actions such as washing your hands correctly can help prevent infections that may trigger sepsis.

Knowing the risk for and symptoms of sepsis – and catching it early – could save a life. If you or a loved one has an infection that is not improving with treatment or is getting worse, act fast and see your medical provider. If an individual experiences any of the TIME symptoms in combination with another, seek urgent medical care and call 911. For more information visit, Symptoms - Sepsis Alliance.