Sepsis, which also can be called septicemia, occurs when chemicals are released in the bloodstream to fight an infection trigger inflammation throughout the body. This can cause many changes that include: damage to multiple organ systems, leading organ failure. Sepsis is a life-threatening condition where the risk of death has been reported to be even higher than that associated with the major complications of atherosclerosis, such as myocardial infarction and stroke. In all three conditions, early treatment could limit organ dysfunction and thereby improve patient’s outcome. Good pre-hospital recognition, management, and treatment can make a profound difference in a septic patient’s outcome. While bacteria accounts for most of the cases,
…show more content…
Killing about one in four of those who are diagnosed. Many of the people who are killed by sepsis developed severe sepsis or septic shock. Severe sepsis is defined as sepsis plus sepsis-induced organ infections or tissue hypoperfusion. In addition, septic shock is defined as when the patient experiences significant drop in blood pressure that could cause the patient to go into respiratory failure, stroke, multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS), and death. In the United States, septic shock is the most common cause of death in the intensive care unit(ICU). MODs was defined in 1991 by the American College of Chest Physicians and the Society of Critical Care Medicine. They defined MODs as, “ progressive impairment of two or more organ systems resulting from an uncontrolled inflammatory response to severe illness or injury.”(book-265). MODS occurs in two stages and usually develops over 2,3, or more weeks. Even more, the average medical cost annually for the treatment of sepsis is more than 15 billion dollars.
In order for sepsis to occur a toxin produced by certain bacteria cause cells in the body to release cytokines, which if left untreated can move into the bloodstream causing sepsis. The most common sites of infections that can lead to sepsis are urinary tract, abdomen, and the lungs. Many people do not acquire sepsis immediately, but hospital settings are the most common area to obtain the infection. The risk of accruing sepsis …show more content…
Today, sepsis effects more than 200,000 people per year and it accounts for the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the ER and hospital stay. The main reason behind such a high mortality rate is because there are no defined recognition protocols for paramedics and EMT to use. Paramedics and EMTs have protocols and guidelines to care for and treat myocardial infarctions and strokes, but do not have a protocol or guideline for sepsis. “Very few, if any, EMS systems are capable of delivering the entire initial resuscitation bundle advocated by the Surviving Sepsis Campaign guidelines. Most EMS systems lack the capability to draw blood and analyze the required parameters. In addition some of the technical skills required, such as central line placement, will be beyond the scope of many non-physician providers.” (Smyth) Early detection by EMTs and paramedics is an important factor in the patient’s survival rate. Paramedics need to appropriately triage and initiate early treatment to a septic patient. Paramedics are limited in the ability for available screening to help recognize sepsis, which is very difficult. Paramedics do not have a laboratory to run blood cultures and blood sampling, like in a hospital setting. Nor do they have imaging adjuncts, such as x-ray, for chest scans. Paramedics need to rely on their primary assessment and recognition
Killing about one in four of those who are diagnosed. Many of the people who are killed by sepsis developed severe sepsis or septic shock. Severe sepsis is defined as sepsis plus sepsis-induced organ infections or tissue hypoperfusion. In addition, septic shock is defined as when the patient experiences significant drop in blood pressure that could cause the patient to go into respiratory failure, stroke, multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS), and death. In the United States, septic shock is the most common cause of death in the intensive care unit(ICU). MODs was defined in 1991 by the American College of Chest Physicians and the Society of Critical Care Medicine. They defined MODs as, “ progressive impairment of two or more organ systems resulting from an uncontrolled inflammatory response to severe illness or injury.”(book-265). MODS occurs in two stages and usually develops over 2,3, or more weeks. Even more, the average medical cost annually for the treatment of sepsis is more than 15 billion dollars.
In order for sepsis to occur a toxin produced by certain bacteria cause cells in the body to release cytokines, which if left untreated can move into the bloodstream causing sepsis. The most common sites of infections that can lead to sepsis are urinary tract, abdomen, and the lungs. Many people do not acquire sepsis immediately, but hospital settings are the most common area to obtain the infection. The risk of accruing sepsis …show more content…
Today, sepsis effects more than 200,000 people per year and it accounts for the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the ER and hospital stay. The main reason behind such a high mortality rate is because there are no defined recognition protocols for paramedics and EMT to use. Paramedics and EMTs have protocols and guidelines to care for and treat myocardial infarctions and strokes, but do not have a protocol or guideline for sepsis. “Very few, if any, EMS systems are capable of delivering the entire initial resuscitation bundle advocated by the Surviving Sepsis Campaign guidelines. Most EMS systems lack the capability to draw blood and analyze the required parameters. In addition some of the technical skills required, such as central line placement, will be beyond the scope of many non-physician providers.” (Smyth) Early detection by EMTs and paramedics is an important factor in the patient’s survival rate. Paramedics need to appropriately triage and initiate early treatment to a septic patient. Paramedics are limited in the ability for available screening to help recognize sepsis, which is very difficult. Paramedics do not have a laboratory to run blood cultures and blood sampling, like in a hospital setting. Nor do they have imaging adjuncts, such as x-ray, for chest scans. Paramedics need to rely on their primary assessment and recognition