Sepsis
Introduction
Sepsis is a medical condition that is characterized by the whole body inflammatory in response to a known or unknown infection. Sepsis is often referred to as blood poisoning as a result of microbes finding their way into the immune system which responds by inflammation. Sepsis is usually treated by introduction of intravenous fluid into the blood system as well as incorporation of antibiotics but at times this is replaced by specific vassopressor medicine which is used to maintain the blood pressure. Sepsis is a common cause of quiet a large number of deaths in the United States especially when administration of medication is delayed. Some common aspects used in diagnosis of sepsis include tachycardia, tachypnea and hypothermia in the victim.
Discussion
Epidemiology of sepsis
Sepsis is the second-leading cause of death in patients suffering from disease not related to the heart. It is the most prevalent in the elderly critically ill patients who are also immunologically deficient. In about 1-2% of all hospital cases in the United States are victims of sepsis. The intensive care unit holds handles about 25%cases of sepsis in relation to other diseases. Most of the deaths that are experienced in the intensive care units of major hospitals all over the world are caused by sepsis. Individuals with severe sepsis rarely recover while those diagnosed as having mild sepsis have higher chances of recovering especially after prompt administration of drugs.
Risk factors in sepsis
Individuals with a weak immune system are at a higher risk of contracting sepsis than those who have stronger immune systems. Patients suffering from cancer among other medical conditions s which involve complex treatment are at a higher risk as their immune system is often destabilized. Young children are also at a higher risk as their immune system may no be fully developed and it may present itself in combined manner hence making it difficult to be identified. The elderly are also equally exposed to sepsis especially if they are suffering form other chronic diseases such as diabetes.
Pathophysiology of sepsis
Sepsis often results in increased inflammatory responses to the whole body as a result of conflict in the blood coagulant. After invasion by pathogens in the body, the immune mechanism acts in such a way that it responds to the intrusion by engaging a series of immune responses. As a result of the series of procedures, blood which is released to carry the pathogens often clots when it is not supposed to clot and as a result blood vessels are clogged. Sometimes the disseminated intravascular coagulation causes prolonged clotting times for the blood hence increasing the chance for more pathogens to find their way into the body.As a way of eliminating these pathogens, the body’s immune mechanism carries out hypersensitivity reactions such that blood plasma infiltrates into the tissues and thus ends up making the whole body to swell. This is also caused by presence of abnormal clots in blood vessel which leaves no option for the plasma but filter out into the intercellular spaces. This aspect causes abnormal shifts in the white blood cells as well as the body temperature.
Diagnostic procedures for sepsis
A specific diagnostic procedure involves systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) which seeks to identify the presence of two or more components in the following tests. The body temperature of sepsis patients is usually erratic in that the person may have a very high body temperature or very low. Fever is quite characteristic especially in young children but quite rare in adults. The heart rate is usually above 90 beats per minute for patient while the white blood cell count is usually less than 4,000cells/mm3.Consequently, confirmation of the infectious process by identifying the various strains of pathogens usually in urine of cerebrospinal fluid. Sometimes doctors may conduct a CT scan to identify presence of various inconsistencies in abdominal organs. However, the most specific diagnostic procedure involves identification of hypoperfusion abnormalities usually caused by inflammation.Inadequate oxygen in the brain often causes lowered level of consciousness which is exemplified by a sepsis shock. This is later on rectified by supply of oxygen to the brain and it reverts back to normal operation.
Treatment of sepsis
Treatment of sepsis is often carried out with antibiotics while at times surgical drainage of the fluid is used to remove fluid which collects at various points. After the fluid has been removed, it is replaced subsequently by either dialysis or mechanical ventilation.Therapy has also been used to treat sepsis especially use of nutritional therapy I the elderly as a way of improving their immune system.
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