According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, sepsis affects approximately 1.7 million people across the United States each year, resulting in 350,000 deaths.
September is Sepsis Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness about a life-threatening condition that is little known to the general public.
Sepsis is the body’s extreme response to infection.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 1.7 million people in the United States become ill with the disease each year, and 350,000 die from it.
“Despite the threat of sepsis, we know that roughly 80 percent of society doesn’t recognize the signs and symptoms of sepsis,” said Sharon O’Brien, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital intensive care physician.
O’Brien said sepsis can come on suddenly, so awareness can mean the difference between life and death.
It can affect anyone, regardless of age or health.
It starts with an infection, which could be anything common, like a urinary tract infection, pneumonia, or even a minor skin infection.
When the body overreacts, tissue and organ damage can occur, leading to shock, multiple organ failure, and even death.
“Any infection can lead to sepsis,” O’Brien says, “It could be a bacterial infection, a viral infection, including COVID, or any infection you can think of.”
The symptoms of sepsis are similar to other illnesses, which is one of the reasons why it is so dangerous.
But there are important warning signs.
The acronym “SEPSIS” can be useful in the following situations:
S — Shivering, fever, or extreme chills E — Extreme pain or discomfort P — Pale, clammy, or sweaty skin S — Drowsiness, confusion, or disorientation I — “Feeling like I’m going to die” S — Shortness of breath
“These are all signs and symptoms of sepsis and require immediate medical attention,” O’Brien said. “These can progress very quickly, so you really need rapid antibiotics and emergency medical care.”
While anyone can get sepsis, some people are at higher risk, including infants, adults over 65, people with weakened immune systems, and people who have recently had surgery or been hospitalized.
“People with diabetes and chronic kidney disease may also be at higher risk, as well as pregnant and postpartum people,” O’Brien said.
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