Sepsis is a serious concern for hospitals, and the problem seems to be getting worse.
According to the CDC [1], based upon information collected from the National Hospital Discharge Survey, the number and rate per 10,000 population of hospitalizations for septicemia or sepsis more than doubled from 2000 through 2008. In 2008, 17% of septicemia or sepsis hospitalizations ended in death, whereas only 2% of other hospitalizations did.
The number of cases of sepsis each year is increasing in the United States, likely due to the following reasons:
- An aging population
- Chronic illnesses are more prevalent
- Invasive procedures, immunosuppressive drugs, chemotherapy, and organ transplants are more common
- The rate of resistance to antibiotics is increasing
- Sepsis is being tracked and measured more
The Common Causes and Symptoms of Sepsis
As you know, sepsis is defined as a systemic inflammatory response to infection caused by any class of microorganisms with the invasion of these microorganisms or their toxins in the bloodstream causing illness.
The most common infections which cause sepsis are:
- Urinary tract infections
- Lung infections
- Kidney infections
- Infections in the abdominal area
Patients who are in the hospital for surgery or existing infections are at greater risk for sepsis. In these scenarios, the microorganisms might already be resistant to antibiotics, antifungal and antiviral drugs, making the infection more dangerous.
Sepsis is clinically manifested with a combination of symptoms. The following are symptoms used to diagnose sepsis and its severity [2]:
- Fever or hypothermia
- Tachypnea
- Various degrees of injury to one or more major organs
Sepsis may be graded as mild, moderate, or severe, according to the severity of the associated organ or organs’ injury and failure. Septic shock is a severe form of sepsis causing inadequate tissue perfusion and shock.
Sepsis Impact
Despite extensive research and relatively high mortality rates from Sepsis, the impact on mortality rates is still unknown. It is also not clear why sepsis rates are more than twice as high in USA compared to European countries [3].
Sepsis prolongs hospitalization in the ICU significantly and the cost of care for sepsis patients is more expensive (some estimations exceed a factor of 10 with average cost of $22,000 per sepsis case in 2013 [4]). The burden ICU expenditure on sepsis cases in estimated at 40% [3]. With 750,000 annual cases of severe sepsis in the USA alone [2], the economic burden of estimated $20 billion in the USA [5] is a true concern for hospital managements as the pressure to reduce costs continues and changes in reimbursement policies as well as accountable care criteria become more established.
Treatment and Prevention of Sepsis
To treat sepsis, doctors use drugs to treat the infection, while keeping the vital organs working, and prevent a drop in blood pressure. In most cases, the patient will receive oxygen and IV fluids.
When detected early enough, the EGDT protocol can be administered, combining aggressive intravenous antibiotic administration with varied monitoring. This method has been proven to significantly reduce sepsis mortality rates [6].
In extreme cases, surgery is required to remove the tissue damaged by the infection.
Sepsis can be prevented by practicing good hygiene, cleaning wounds thoroughly, and getting vaccinated against common infections that could lead to sepsis (such as flu and pneumonia).
A simple way to reduce infections in the ICU and other hospital settings where IV’s are used is switching to the MarvelousTM Stopcock. Infections are easier to avoid due to several features of its innovative design:
- The luer-activated valve (LAV) serves as a bacterial barrier, allowing access to the line without opening it and thereby maintaining a closed system.
- The fluid flow around the handle creates a unique “circumferential channel” that reaches the entire internal volume of the valve. Constant flushing of the side port with (main line) carrier fluid minimizes dead space and prevents stagnation, which, based on the results of several studies, can reduce the risk of microbial colonization.
- Marvelous further improves infection control by enabling fewer manipulations with the elimination of post-medication/ blood sampling flushing with a syringe and the use of ad-on caps.
Severe sepsis and septic shock are among the leading causes of death in hospitals in the US and worldwide. Early recognition of these conditions and proper treatment can significantly decrease the mortality rates.
Prevention of sepsis, which can be ensured with relative simple means of hygiene and adherence to safety protocols, will take patient safety even further. The Sepsis awareness month is there to enable enhanced training, more research of this condition and ways to prevent it and the development of new medical devices to help medical staff do their job with increased safety to themselves and improved outcomes for their patients.
Resources:
1. http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db62.htm
2. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2398368/pdf/postmedj00014-0004.pdf
3. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15294012
4. http://pocwpprod.azurewebsites.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/WK-site-graphs-01-1024×543.png
5. http://www.slideshare.net/KristyMolnar/surviving-sepsis-2013-kristy-molnar-critical-care-consultants – slide 17
6. http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa010307#t=abstract
