Medium urgency
Common-
Sepsis consists of the body's inflammatory response which acts as a defence mechanism against a serious infection.
The most common cause is a bacterial infection, but it can be caused by other microorganisms.
Symptoms which may be presented are fever or hypothermia, increased heart and/or respiratory rate, chills, discolouration/alterations in skin temperature and impaired consciousness.
The diagnosis will be made using the medical history, a physical examination, laboratory tests, cultures of samples and imaging tests (according to clinical suspicion).
The main treatment is based on early antibiotic therapy, providing intravenous fluid therapy and rapid identification of the infected site.
- Remi Neviere. Sepsis syndromes in adults: Epidemiology, definitions, clinical presentation, diagnosis, and prognosis. UpToDate. Aug 08, 2016.
- Gregory A Schmidt, Jess Mandel. Evaluation and management of suspected sepsis and septic shock in adults. UpToDate. Aug 25, 2016.
- Elixhauser A, Friedman B, Stranges E. Septicemia in U.S. Hospitals, 2009. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. http://www.hcup-us.ahrq.gov/reports/statbriefs/sb122.pdf (Accessed on February 15, 2013).
- Esper AM, Martin GS. Extending international sepsis epidemiology: the impact of organ dysfunction. Crit Care 2009; 13:120.
- Walkey AJ, Wiener RS, Lindenauer PK. Utilization patterns and outcomes associated with central venous catheter in septic shock: a population-based study. Crit Care Med 2013; 41:1450.
- Robert S. Munford. Septicemia y estado de choque séptico. Harrison. Principios de Medicina Interna. Volumen 2. 19º Edición. 1751-1759.
- Ana Pedrosa Guerrero, Agustín Julián Jiménez. Sepsis y shock séptico. Manual de protocolos y actuación en Urgencias. 3ª edición. 2010.609- 619.
Dr. Oscar Garcia-Esquirol
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