Content

• Steps
• Part 1 of 4: Identifying Risk Factors
• Part 2 of 4: Preventing the Development of Sepsis
• Part 3 of 4: Detecting Symptoms Early
• Part 4 of 4: Medical Treatment for Sepsis

Sepsis is an extremely serious condition caused by the ingestion of infectious agents and their waste products (toxins) into the blood and tissues. Sepsis can cause serious harm to health, including even the development of functional failure of an organ or even septic shock. It is worth noting that we all walk under the threat of sepsis, but it poses the greatest threat to the elderly and those whose immunity is weakened. In order to prevent the development of sepsis, it is necessary to know the risk factors for its development, be able to recognize the symptoms and, accordingly, take preventive and preventive measures.

Steps

Part 1 of 4: Identifying Risk Factors

1. 1 Young and old are at risk of developing sepsis. Why? Their immunity is weak, and the weakness of the immune system means that the infection will have a better chance of poisoning the body and causing the development of sepsis.
   • Until the age of 14, children still have insufficiently strong immune systems, which makes them vulnerable to infections.
   • People over 60 therefore no longer have a strong immune system, which also makes them vulnerable to infections.
2. 2 Also at risk are people suffering from chronic diseases. This is especially true in the case of diseases that suppress the immune system. The principle here is the same: the weaker the immune system, the harder it is to fight off infections, the higher the risk of sepsis. Here are an example of diseases that increase the risk of developing sepsis:
   • AIDS / HIV - These diseases destroy the very immune system.
   • Cancer - patients undergoing chemotherapy or radiation therapy are at risk of developing sepsis, as these procedures suppress the activity of the immune system. Both chemotherapy and radiation kill not only tumor cells, but also healthy cells, and this, alas, harms the immune system.
   • Diabetes.Diabetes has abnormally high blood sugar levels. Sugar, in turn, serves as food for many microorganisms, and the higher the blood sugar level, the higher the likelihood that some microorganism will "move" into the blood. And the more such microorganisms there are, the higher the risk of encountering sepsis.
3. 3 Remember that being on steroid therapy also increases your risk of sepsis. Long-term steroid therapy suppresses the immune system, since steroids (hydrocortisone, dexamethasone, and others) act as anti-inflammatory agents. The piquancy of the situation lies in the fact that the inflammatory response, suppressed by steroids, is part of the body's immune response.
   • Without an inflammatory response, the body cannot resist infections and, therefore, becomes extremely vulnerable.
4. 4 Open wounds greatly increase the risk of developing sepsis. Open wounds are a kind of door, moreover, open, for microorganisms, literally inviting them to get inside your body and infect healthy tissues. All this, of course, will end in sepsis.
   • If the depth of the wound is equal to 1 centimeter or more, or if the integrity of the blood vessel is violated by the wound, then the risk is especially great.
   • Third-degree burns are as dangerous as open wounds.
5. 5 The use of invasive devices and devices also increases the risk of developing sepsis. Catheters, breathing tubes and everything else may not be as sterile as doctors think. They may well be contaminated with microorganisms, which then go directly into your body. The longer such contact with microorganisms is maintained, the higher the risk of developing sepsis.

Part 2 of 4: Preventing the Development of Sepsis

1. 1 Wash your hands often and thoroughly to prevent the accumulation of microorganisms. Hand washing is the most effective way to prevent the transfer of microorganisms. Again, the cleaner the hands, the less microorganisms enter the body, which proportionally reduces the risk of developing sepsis.
   • Wash your hands with soap and warm water.
   • Wash your hands as often as possible.
   • If water and soap are not nearby, then an antiseptic hand gel will do.
   • Nails should be trimmed regularly as dirt builds up under the nails.
2. 2 Eat right to keep your immune system in good shape. Nutrient-rich foods (especially vitamin C) are your choice. This will strengthen the immune system, which will allow your body to effectively fight infection and prevent the development of sepsis or other complications. Fruits and vegetables rich in vitamin C include yellow bell peppers, guavas, citrus fruits and many others.
   • It is necessary to consume about 500-2,000 milligrams of vitamin C per day.
3. 3 Handle and cook food thoroughly to kill any germs that may be on its surface. Needless to say, when preparing food, you must adhere to all appropriate culinary and hygiene standards. Proper food preparation significantly reduces the likelihood of developing sepsis.
   • Food should be cooked at a temperature in the region of 93-100 Celsius, it is at this temperature that most microorganisms will die.
   • Freezing food, in turn, should be at 0 degrees Celsius or less, so that the food does not spoil.
4. 4 Drink only bottled water. If the water flowing from the tap is not credible, drink bottled water, and if there is no place to buy it, then boil running water for at least a minute to kill all microorganisms in there. Do not drink from questionable water sources such as wells, columns, and open bodies of water.
5. 5 Disinfect surfaces you touch frequently to kill germs. Cleanliness and disinfection - oh, how much in these words! If everything around you shines with cleanliness, then your chances of coming into contact with harmful microorganisms are significantly reduced. The principle is simple: the fewer bacteria around you, the lower your risk of infection and sepsis.
   • Disinfectants for the home are fine.
   • Most disinfectants kill 99.9% of microorganisms.
   • Autoclaves and similar devices are good too. They are based on the principle of disinfection with high-temperature steam, which allows you not to worry about chemicals that may remain after the disinfectant.
6. 6 Treat wounds carefully to prevent infection. If you are hurt, then the wound needs appropriate care, this is a fact. Antiseptics (iodine, alcohol, hydrogen peroxide) and clean wound dressings are what you need.
   • Antimicrobial dressings are even better than plain, clean dressings.
7. 7 If you happen to get to the hospital, then do not come into contact with other people. A mask, gloves, a medical gown - this is what you need to put on before entering, say, a hospital ward. To reduce the risk of infection, contact with hospital patients should be minimized.
8. 8 Try to limit the number of invasive procedures you undergo. The risk of developing sepsis in a hospital patient can be reduced by limiting the duration and frequency of using indwelling catheters (they can easily transfer harmful microorganisms into your body, which will lead to sepsis).

Part 3 of 4: Detecting Symptoms Early

1. 1 Measure the temperature if you feel it rising. An increase in temperature is the body's first reaction to an invasion of infection. With sepsis, the temperature can rise to 40.5 degrees Celsius.
   • Chills and cramps sometimes accompany an increase in temperature.
2. 2 Determine if you have started tachycardia. Tachycardia - an abnormally fast heartbeat - indicates the presence of serious problems, one of which may be sepsis (although sometimes there are people for whom a rapid heart rate is the norm).
   • Sepsis triggers an inflammatory response that narrows the blood vessels.
   • The narrower the vessels, the more difficult it is for the heart to pump blood through them.
   • To compensate for these difficulties, the heart begins to work more actively, and the pulse, accordingly, rises above 90 beats per minute.
3. 3 Pay attention to breathing to determine if tachypnea has developed. What is tachypnea? Rapid breathing without deepening. Sometimes this is the norm (more or less), and sometimes it is a sign of sepsis.
   • Tachpinoe is part of the body's compensatory response to a decrease in the efficiency of blood supply to tissues and organs caused by inflammation.
   • The body tries to saturate the blood with the body more completely than usual (the logic is clear: since little blood comes in, so let this blood be rich in oxygen), in connection with which the person begins to breathe faster.
   • Tachypnea starts from 20 breaths a minute and beyond.
4. 4 Consider if you are feeling more sleepy than usual. Sleepiness can be caused by a lack of oxygen supply to the brain. In turn, this deficiency can be a consequence of the aforementioned inflammation, in which oxygen saturation of tissues and organs deteriorates.
   • The beginning of the development of sepsis can make itself felt precisely by long-lasting drowsiness.
5. 5 See a specialist for an accurate diagnosis. The doctor will run several tests to determine the extent of the infection. First, of course, you will be asked about how you feel, how you feel and how long you have had these symptoms, and you will be asked all other necessary questions in this situation. The doctor will then write you a referral for the following tests and tests:
   • Blood analysis. This will help determine if your condition is caused by a virus or bacteria (and whether it is caused by them, and not by something else).
   • Kidney and liver function test. This will help determine how these vital organs are functioning. If there are deviations from the norm, the doctor will be able to take all appropriate measures to prevent the development of renal or liver failure.
   • In addition, you may be sent for ultrasound, x-rays, and CT scans.

Part 4 of 4: Medical Treatment for Sepsis

1. 1 Take your prescribed broad-spectrum antibiotics to treat local infections. Such antibiotics, as a rule, are administered intravenously, and even before the development of sepsis, as if as a preventive measure. If sepsis does start, the doctor will be able to determine which antibiotic treatment should be continued.
   • Antibiotic treatment is a matter of the severity of your condition.
   • You should continue to take antibiotics even after the symptoms have disappeared.
   • Unless your doctor recommends otherwise, you should take a full course of antibiotics.
   • Only when the doctor can confirm that there are no more traces of infection left in your body, then and only then can you stop taking antibiotics.
2. 2 Take your prescribed vasoconstrictor drugs to control your blood pressure. The goal of medication for sepsis is to minimize the harm from infection. So, in particular, it is necessary to maintain at the proper level and blood pressure so that the blood can oxygenate organs and tissues normally, in order to avoid the failure of one or another organ.
3. 3 Continue treatment as directed by your doctor. What exactly will be prescribed for you - it already depends on your condition. So, in particular, you may be prescribed pain relievers, sedatives, corticosteroids and even insulin - all in order to cope with the harm caused by sepsis to the body.