Verenmyrkytys

Kaikenlaiset infektiot voivat aiheuttaa verenmyrkytyksen.

Sepsikseen eli kansanomaisemmin verenmyrkytykseen sairastuu vuosittain 47–50 miljoonaa ihmistä, joista vähintään 11 miljoonaa ihmistä kuolee. Sepsis on infektion hengenvaarallinen seuraus. Kaikenlaiset infektiot voivat aiheuttaa sen. Se voi johtaa sokkiin, monielinvaurioon ja kuolemaan. Näin käy erityisesti silloin, jos sitä ei tunnisteta ajoissa ja hoideta nopeasti.

Verenmyrkytystapausten määrä on voimakkaassa kasvussa.Global Sepsis Alliance ilmoittaa, että verenmyrkytyksestä aiheutuneet sairaalahoidot ovat kaksinkertaistuneet edellisten 10 vuoden aikana.Ja vaikka suurin osa yhdistää sairaalainfektiot verenmyrkytykseen, kansainvälisten kyselyjen mukaan 20–40 % verenmyrkytystapauksista tapahtuu sairaaloiden ulkopuolella.

50 Million people develop sepsis every year

11 Million people die

20 to 40% develop sepsis out of hospital

Sepsis is a medical emergency

Sepsis is often diagnosed too late, because the clinical symptoms used for sepsis diagnosis like raised temperature, increased pulse or breathing rate, or white blood cell count are unspecific. In children, the signs and symptoms may be subtle and deterioration can be rapid.

Even a minor infection can lead to sepsis. Sepsis is a common, but under recognized condition. This is due to confusion about the signs of sepsis among patients and healthcare providers, lack of documentation of sepsis as a cause of death, inadequate diagnostic tools, and inconsistent application of standard clinical guidelines to treat sepsis.

If recognized early, sepsis can be treated. Know the symptoms.

Fever, shivering, very cold

Short of breath

Clammy or sweaty skin

Extreme pain

Confusion or altered mental status

Pale or discolored skin

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Time is critical

Regardless of the setting, pre-hospital or hospital, the critical factor in patient survival is time—time to recognition and time to treatment. The risk of death from sepsis increases by as much as 8% for every hour that treatment is delayed.

Difficult to diagnose

Sepsis can be difficult to diagnose because of its quick onset and overlapping symptoms with other conditions. There is no single test for sepsis, so learning to identify and treat sepsis quickly is critical. Common signs of sepsis include fever, shivering, extreme pain, pale or discolored skin, sleepiness, confusion or altered mental state, shortness of breath, and lack of urination.

Timely intervention is key

As many as 80% of sepsis deaths could be prevented with rapid diagnosis and treatment. Rapid initiation of simple, timely interventions including intravenous fluids and targeted treatment to restore the circulation can reduce the risk of dying. Early sepsis treatment not only improves patient safety, but it is cost effective, reducing hospital and critical care bed days for patients.

Simulate for success

Simulation training can enable healthcare providers to accurately diagnose and treat sepsis. Using simulation scenarios to learn to identify standard and severe sepsis, to recognize sepsis in high-risk patients, to differentiate between sepsis and other conditions, and to assess and treat septic shock are among some of the learning objectives for simulation training.

Saving Little Lives

A key intervention in the Saving Little Lives program is a NICU package with a focus on sepsis.

Learn more

Tehokkaan sepsishoidon opettaminen

Sepsis on infektion hengenvaarallinen seuraus. Se voi johtaa sokkiin, monielinvaurioon ja kuolemaan. Näin käy erityisesti silloin, jos sitä ei tunnisteta ajoissa ja hoideta nopeasti.