Many people have heard of ‘septicaemia’ but sepsis is now the accepted term for this illness. It happens when an infection you already have, in your skin, lungs, urinary tract (pee/mimi), or somewhere else, triggers a chain reaction throughout your body.
What causes sepsis?
When microorganisms (germs), such as bacteria, fungal or viral infection get into your body, they can cause an infection. If that infection isn’t stopped, it can cause sepsis. Sepsis is not an infection, but an inappropriate response to an underlying infection.
The most common infections that cause sepsis are:
Resources
Brochure
Have an infection?
Just ask “could it be sepsis?”
If it could happen to Rhys, it could happen to anyone….
Rhys Edwards is a fit, hard-working young man of Māori and European descent. You wouldn’t think he would be at risk of sepsis but his story shows that anyone is…and that his outcomes could have been quite different if someone hadn’t asked,“could this be sepsis?”.
Seek medical help urgently if you or your loved one develops any or one of the following:
Sepsis doesn’t care who you are or what you do…
Paige was a healthy young nurse working in a busy emergency department…listen to how she became a sepsis statistic, one of up to 50 000 Kiwis who contract sepsis annually…
Who is at risk?
Anyone can get an infection, and almost any infection can lead to sepsis, but some people are at higher risk of infection and sepsis including:
Māori and Pacific people and individuals living in poverty are also at greater risk of developing sepsis in New Zealand.
Here are some of the main questions we are asked about sepsis. Just click on each question to read the answer.
Sepsis is a condition caused by your body’s immune system responding abnormally to an infection, which can lead to tissue damage, organ failure, and death. The infection can start anywhere in your body; it may be only in one part, or it may be widespread. Your immune system usually works to fight any germs (bacteria, viruses, fungi), or to prevent infection. However, for reasons we don’t fully understand, sometimes the immune system goes into overdrive and starts to attack our organs and other tissues. Common infections leading to sepsis include the following (we’ve put the words that healthcare professionals use in brackets):
Sepsis is not a mild illness. People with sepsis usually feel extremely unwell with one or more of the following symptoms:
If someone you care for is sick with an infection and/or fever, ask yourself:
If yes, call 111 and tell the operator and ambulance crew that you’re worried about sepsis
In other circumstances it may be appropriate to see your GP or urgent care provider and “just ask – could it be sepsis?/ he pātai – he sepsis tēnei?
Many people who get over the initial infection still need a lot of help with:
This process of recovery and rehabilitation often requires an average length of stay in hospital of seven days.
People who leave hospital after sepsis often struggle to return to their previous level of function. The main problems directly related to sepsis are physical, medical, cognitive (relating to brain function) and psychological.
There is no easy way to deal with these problems and nobody is the same – in some cases people barely notice any change, in others the effects of sepsis can be devastating, costing people their independence and/or livelihoods. On a positive note, symptoms usually improve over time and can respond to therapy. The average time to full recovery is 18 – 24 months. Speak with your healthcare professional about recovery from a severe illness, and ask for extra help if you need it.
It may also help you to do the following:
Yes, having a previous sepsis event is a risk factor for future events at any point, but particularly in the following one year. Survivors are more prone to contracting another infection because of the damage to the immune system during sepsis. But most people who’ve had sepsis before seek help early on and are treated promptly. Understanding that you have had sepsis and what it is helps to prevent future events.
If you (or your loved one) have an infection, then you should keep a close eye for any signs of sepsis and seek help urgently if worried.
A healthcare worker will see signs of an infection and one or more of the following:
It is very important to give treatment for sepsis as early as possible. This is why recognising the symptoms of sepsis and calling for help is so important.
After sepsis has been recognised there are six things that have to be done within one hour – this is called the ‘Sepsis Six bundle’. In healthcare, a ‘bundle’ is a group of interventions which reduce harm (or improve outcomes) when given together as a package. If everything in the Sepsis Six is done within an hour (compared with no treatment), the chance of death from sepsis is roughly halved.
The Sepsis Six steps are:
