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Sepsis, blood poisoning or septicaemia

Sepsis is a life-threatening illness caused when the body is overcome by infection. It is often

called septicaemia or blood poisoning when the body is fighting a severe infection that hasspread via the bloodstream.

This condition can develop either as a result of the body's own defence system or from toxic

substances made by the infecting agent (such as a bacteria, virus or fungus).

There are three stages of sepsis:

Uncomplicated sepsis is very common and usually does not need hospital treatment. When the infection starts to interfere with the organs of the body it is called severe sepsis. In severe sepsis, ifblood pressure drops to dangerous levels, organs are prevented from

getting enough oxygenated blood, and this is called septic shock.

People at risk of sepsis

People whose immune systems (the body's defence against microbes) are not functioningwell because of an illness (such as cancer or AIDS) or because of medical treatment

(such as chemotherapy for cancer or steroids for a number of medical conditions) that

weakens the immune system are more prone to develop sepsis. It is important toremember that even healthy people can suffer from sepsis.

Because their immune systems are not completely developed, very young babies may getsepsis if they become infected and are not treated in a timely manner. Often, if they

develop signs of an infection such as fever, infants have to receive antibiotics and beadmitted to hospital. Sepsis in the very young is often more difficult to diagnose because

the typical signs of sepsis (fever, change in behaviour) may not be present or may bemore difficult to ascertain.

The elderly population, especially those with other medical illnesses such as diabetes,may be at increased risk as well.

The number of people developing sepsis in the UK appears to be increasing with more than

30,000 cases of severe sepsis occurring each year.

There has been a large increase in sepsis because doctors have started treating cancerpatients and organ transplant patients, among others, with strong medications that weaken

the immune system.

Because of our ageing population, the number of elderly people with weak immunesystems has also grown.

Finally, because of the increased and often inappropriate use of antibiotics to treatillnesses caused by viruses and not bacteria, many strains of bacteria have becomeresistant to antibiotics, making the treatment of sepsis more difficult in some cases.

Sepsis causes

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Many different microbes can cause sepsis. Although bacteria are most commonly the cause,

viruses and fungi can also cause sepsis. Infections in the lungs ( pneumonia), bladder and

kidneys (urinary tract infections), skin ( cellulitis), abdomen (such as appendicitis), and otherorgans (such asmeningitis)can spread and lead to sepsis. Infections that develop after surgery

can also lead to sepsis

Sepsis, blood poisoning or septicaemia

(continued)

Who is at risk of sepsis?

Very young people and elderly people Anyone who is taking immunosuppressive medications (such as transplant recipients) People who are being treated with chemotherapy drugs or radiotherapy Patients who have no spleen Patients taking steroids (especially over the long-term) People with long-standing diabetes, AIDS or cirrhosis Someone who has very large burns or severe injuries People with infections such as the following:

o Pneumoniao Meningitiso Cellulitiso Urinary tract infectiono Ruptured appendix

Sepsis symptoms

If a patient has sepsis, they often will have fever. Sometimes, though, the bodytemperature may be normal or even low.

The patient may also have chills and severe shaking. The patient'sheart may be beating very fast and they may be breathing rapidly.

Symptoms of severe sepsis or septic shock include confusion, disorientation, agitation,dizziness

- particularly when standing up, decreased urination,diarrhoea,nausea and vomiting, cold, pale

and clammy skin

Some patients who have septicaemia develop a rash on their skin. The rash may be areddish discolouration or small dark red dots throughout the body.

The patient may also developpain in thejoints of their wrists, elbows, back, hips, kneesandankles.

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