What is sepsis (blood poisoning)?
Sepsis is an infection in the bloodstream. There are then bacteria in the blood.
Sepsis is more common in people with low resistance, like someone who gets chemotherapy or HIV patients. Even very young children and very old people are particularly vulnerable.
The medical name for blood poisoning is sepsis or septicemia.
What are the signs and symptoms of sepsis?
Signs and symptoms of sepsis are:
- High fever.
- Cold shivers.
- Palpitations.
- Rapid, shallow breathing.
- Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
- Decreased consciousness: the person is drowsy or confused.
Has anyone these symptoms, call your doctor immediately. Blood poisoning must be treated as soon as possible.
How do you get sepsis?
In sepsis, there are bacteria come into the blood. This is done, for example, via an inflamed wound, or an infection within the body. Usually clears the body of bacteria itself. But as they rapidly multiply the immune system can not clear away the bacteria and can cause blood poisoning.
When sepsis coming two substances in the body:
- Toxins (poisons). The bacteria in the blood make these toxins.
- Cytokines. These are substances that are made by immune cells.
- The blood pressure drops. Decreases the patient goes into shock.
- The blood vessels may leak. There will then blood into the tissues.
- Sometimes you may see blood clots. This gives major organs (particularly the kidney, lung and brains) less blood. Due to poor blood flow to the damaged organs. Ultimately tissue die. This is called necrosis. Usually, the fingers and toes of the patient than black.
What causes sepsis?
Sepsis is generally caused by the bacterial species pneumococcal and meningococcal. Other harmful bacteria are Salmonella typhi and staphylococci. The bacterium hemofylus influenza is now less often the culprit. This is because children are vaccinated against the Netherlands.
People with low resistance at higher risk of blood poisoning. For example:
- Very young children.
- Old people.
- People with sickle cell disease.
- People with an immune disorder
- People who are receiving chemotherapy.
- People who receive steroids (prednisone or corticosteroids).
- People with a large wound.
- People who have been admitted to the hospital. They are more likely to bloedvergifiting because they are already sick and because they often have tubes inserted into their body, such as an IV or a catheter. Through these tubes can end up of bacteria in the blood.
- People who are addicted to alcohol or drugs.
- People who do not have a spleen.
What is the treatment for sepsis?
If a doctor suspects that someone has blood poisoning, they start treatment right away. The person gets an infusion of antibiotics. Meanwhile, let your doctor figure out which type of bacteria causing septicemia. This can be done by examining the blood but also urine or putting coughed up phlegm on culture.
As long as the exact cause of the sepsis is not known, the patient receives broad spectrum antibiotics. That kill all types of bacteria. Only when it is clear which bacteria are involved, the patient gets a targeted antibiotic.
People with sepsis are admitted to the intensive care unit of a hospital. In addition to the antibiotics they are given as needed, other treatments such as:
- Many liquid against low blood pressure. This allows the person may look puffy. That disappears when the patient recovers.
- Drugs to treat low blood pressure and medications to allow the heart to work properly.
- Ventilation.
- Hemodialysis.
How well the treatment for sepsis?
Sepsis is such a serious disease that people it might die.
People who are otherwise healthy do not die so quickly from blood poisoning. But for certain groups of people is extremely dangerous blood poisoning. For example, old people whose immune system is not working well and which are not treated immediately. They have a much greater chance of dying.