“Sepsis – A Silent and Hidden Killer” Says Dr. Hrushikesh Vaidya, Medical Director and Chairman of Horizon Group of Hospitals
Sepsis Affects 50 million People Yearly Worldwide and Causes 11 million Deaths
Sepsis is a life-threatening condition and one of the most frequent causes of death worldwide. Sepsis has become a global health problem affecting millions of people every year and is a leading cause of critical illness and death. Nearly 50 million people worldwide each year are affected by an illness called sepsis and around 11 million deaths are caused by this condition. Around four out of 10 patients die of sepsis in India, a serious condition when the body’s immune system has an extreme reaction to a viral, bacterial or fungal infection, leading to the damage of tissues and organs. Every year on September 13th, events in all parts of the world raise awareness for sepsis worldwide.
Dr. Hrushikesh Vaidya, Medical Director and Chairman of Horizon Group of Hospitals said “Sepsis is a life-threatening condition that happens when the body’s immune system has an extreme response to an infection, causing organ dysfunction. The body’s reaction causes damage to its own tissues and organs and it can lead to shock, multiple organ failure and sometimes death, especially if not recognized early and treated promptly. Sepsis can affect anyone, but people who are older, very young, pregnant or have other health problems are at higher risk. Till date, we have ourselves treated close to 5000 patients with Sepsis. In the last one year itself, we have treated over 800 patients with Sepsis.”
Recognising the symptoms of sepsis is crucial for early intervention. These symptoms can vary from person to person but often include a high or low body temperature, disorientation, slurred speech and a rapid heartbeat. Other signs may include severe breathlessness, cold, clammy, pale or mottled skin and fast breathing. In some cases, patients may experience extreme pain or discomfort, chills, light headedness due to low blood pressure and skin rash.
Anyone affected by an infection, severe injury, or serious non-communicable disease can progress to sepsis. Sepsis affects the following
- older persons
- pregnant or recently pregnant women
- neonates
- hospitalized patients
- patients in intensive care units
- people with weakened immune systems (for example HIV, cancer)
- people with chronic medical conditions (for example kidney disease, cirrhosis).
Symptoms
- fever or low temperature and shivering
- confusion
- difficulty breathing
- clammy and sweaty skin
- extreme body pain or discomfort
- high heart rate, weak pulse or low blood pressure
- low urine output.
Symptoms in children include:
- fast breathing
- convulsions
- pale skin
- lethargy
- difficulty waking up
- feeling cold to the touch.
In children under 5 years old, it can cause difficulty feeding, frequent vomiting or lack of urination.
Prevention
Sepsis can be prevented by treating infections early and through good hygiene at home and in healthcare settings. Hospitals and clinics should follow effective rules for infection prevention and control. Antibiotics should be used appropriately to treat infections.
Dr. Hrushikesh Vaidya says “The treatment for sepsis is most effective when identified and started early or else it has a high level of mortality. Early diagnosis can reduce mortality and to diagnose it early there is a specific criteria. At Horizon, we have highly trained and efficient nurses who are able to identify itearly and on time. Nurses are the ones who are there with the patient’s bedside all the time. Hence, nurses need to watch out for concerning signs and use tests to diagnose sepsis. Further, it can help to find the source of the infection. Early use of antimicrobials to treat bacteria, parasites, fungus or viruses is essential to improve outcomes from sepsis. At Horizon, for the treatment of Sepsis, we use the best blood purification filter that’s a part of Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy that can remove inflammatory mediators, endotoxin, fluid and uremic toxins simultaneously”.
Dr. Hrushikesh Vaidya said “Sepsis can lead to septic shock, multiple organ failure and death if not identified early. Common signs of sepsis include fever, fast heart rate, rapid breathing and body pain. Sepsis is usually caused by bacterial infections that may be the result of other infections such as viruses, parasites or fungi. Its treatment requires medical care, including the use of antimicrobials, intravenous fluids and other measures”.
The condition of patients in critical care units are already serious. Sepsis makes the management of their health even more challenging. If a patient is multi-drug resistant, the prognosis can be bad. Early identification of sepsis, correct diagnosis and timely intervention is the need of the hour. Viral, bacterial, parasite infection may develop into sepsis. People of extreme age groups—children and elderly—pregnant women, new mothers and patients of chronic disease, cancer and chemotherapy patients have higher risks of developing sepsis than others.
Dr. Hrushikesh Vaidya believes, “Implementing preventive measures against infections such as good hygiene practices, improved sanitation, availability of good water quality, vaccination, and implementation of other infection prevention/control practices both in the community and health care settings, are key steps in reducing the occurrence of sepsis. Thus, early diagnosis, timely and appropriate clinical management such as optimal antimicrobial use are crucial factors for patient’s survival from sepsis.”
