Sepsis or Septicemia Can Be Fatal
Sepsis is a systemic inflammatory response to an invasive microorganism. The pathogenic microorganism in the blood stream (septicemia) and tissues in the body causes damage to body organs. Some possible organs that can be injured are the heart, lungs, kidneys and liver. These are vital organs of the body and harm may lead to failure. According to Wikipedia, “Sepsis is the world’s tenth leading cause of death. In America, it is the most common cause of death among patients under intensive care.”
(FYI: Sepsis infection is actually a redundant phrase but it is an acceptable redundancy in clinical practice.)
Septic patients or patients with sepsis lead to multiple organ failure if untreated, treated late or treated inappropriately by the health team. An example of misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment has been sited in one television drama series. A simple Staphylococcal infection was not notice that led to septicemia and sepsis that caused patient’s death. The characters and story is fictional but such setting may happen as a fact.
In the TV show House M. D., a patient was admitted after passing out while on the streets. The female patient named Lupe was suspected to have low oxygen in her brain that affected her ability to make decisions and eventually faints. Lupe’s case was handled by Dr. Gregory House’s health team with doctors Foreman, Cameron and Chase. It was a case of infection that led to sepsis. As part of the taking a patient’s medical history, patient background is taken. Based on Lupe’s history, Dr. Foreman associated her case of possible substance abuse.
As a patient’s condition worsened, the health team was forced to give treatment and presumed it was cancer. So the patient was given immunosuppressive treatment through radiation and steroid therapy. This greatly weakened the immune system of Lupe causing staphylococci bacteria to flood in her system. The treatment administered led the patient’s condition at its worst – SEVERE SEPSIS. Antibiotics can no longer be given because there is no immune system to aid. Patient’s heart was greatly damaged and transplant is not permitted because the sepsis infection will destroy the transplanted heart. In this case, patient has only hours to live and is just waiting for the sepsis complication to shut down whole body system.
Sepsis can be prevented through prompt treatment of simple or non-severe infections. Septicemia and/or sepsis leads to death. So, be aware of infections which sepsis may occur like UTI, tonsillitis and even simple wound infections. A wound as simple as a deep scratch can be an entry for pathogens that can cause sepsis.
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Tags: health, Health and Wellness, health tips, Rare Diseases and Conditions, Sepsis, Sepsis Infection
