September is National Sepsis Awareness Month

September is National Sepsis Month and we want everyone to know what causes it and what symptoms to look out for in yourself and loved ones. Providing timely and effective sepsis care can stop the deadly sepsis cascade and allow patients to go home to celebrate another birthday with their family and friends.

What is sepsis?

Sepsis can occur in anyone who has an infection, and often starts when the existing  infection sets off a chain reaction throughout the body. Most cases start before a patient even gets to the hospital, and frequently begin as bacterial infections, such as lung, urinary tract, skin or gastrointestinal infections. This includes COVID-19 infection and flu, which can also cause patients to develop sepsis. Without treatment quickly, sepsis can lead to tissue damage, organ failure or death.

What are the symptoms of sepsis?

Some of the most common symptoms of sepsis include:

• High heart rate or weak pulse
• Fever, shivering or feeling very cold
• Confusion or disorientation
• Shortness of breath
• Extreme pain or discomfort
• Clammy or sweaty skin

If you or a loved one exhibits one or more of these symptoms, go to see a healthcare professional immediately!

Who is most at risk for sepsis?

Anyone with an infection can develop sepsis. There are a few groups who are at a higher risk:

• Adults 65 and older
• People with chronic medical conditions or weakened immune systems
• People with recent hospitalization or severe illness
• Children less than a year old
• And those who have already had sepsis

Help save lives by understanding sepsis is the body’s extreme, life-threatening response to infection which impacts about 1.7 million people each year. Sepsis is the leading cause of deaths in hospital settings, and is believed to be the most common cause of death globally – more than cancer or heart disease. View the following resources to learn more about sepsis and sepsis prevention.

Resources

• Understanding Sepsis Presentation
• Understanding Sepsis Video
• CDC Website on Sepsis
• Sepsis Toolkit for Survivors
• Sepsis Information for Caregivers
• Sepsis Support Community