Sepsis Awareness Month

September is Sepsis Awareness Month. Sepsis is the #1 cause of death in hospitals and the #1 cost of hospitalization in the U.S., consuming more than $53 billion in in-hospital costs each year.  Woodlawn Health has worked hard to develop evidence-based protocols to recognize and treat sepsis quickly.

Over 87% of sepsis cases develop outside of the hospital. This means that most people with sepsis are already severely ill before they come to the hospital.  It is essential that community members be informed on how to recognize signs of sepsis and when to seek help!  Surveys have shown that only 66% of adults are aware of the term sepsis.  Of those 66% who are aware, only 19% could identify four common symptoms.  So let’s refresh….

Sepsis is a life-threatening emergency that occurs when your body has a severe reaction to an infection.  Essentially, the immune system cannot keep up and infection causes toxins to be released in the body that result in damage to your organs, such as your brain, heart, kidneys, lungs, and more.  If untreated, this damage to your organ can result in life-threatening consequences.  Just like a stroke or heart attack, treating sepsis is most effective when initiated immediately.

Sepsis can begin with almost any type of infection.  It could begin as something small such as a bug bite or something more serious such as pneumonia.

Think TIME.  If you experience these symptoms, call 911 or go to the hospital.

For more information about sepsis, www.sepsis.org has many resources available for patients, providers, organizations, and more.

How can I prevent sepsis?

Infection prevention is the key to preventing sepsis.

• Vaccination: Many viral and bacterial infections, such as flu, varicella(chicken pox), RSV, and Pneumonia are preventable with vaccination. The vaccines trick your body into thinking it has the virus infection so that your body will create soldiers (antibodies) to fight the virus.  These “soldiers” remember what the virus looks like so next time you are exposed to it, you body recognizes it as the enemy and fights the virus off before it gets out of control.
• Hygiene: Wash your hands frequently (before & after food, after using the bathroom, after coughing/blowing your nose, after touching animals, after being outside or public areas). Use running water, use soap and later well, dry with a clean towel.  Remove jewelry, such as rings, before washing.  Don’t forget between your fingers, the tops of your hands, and the sides of your thumbs as these are the most commonly missed areas.  Hand sanitizer is appropriate for use when the hands are not visibly dirty.
• Wound Care: Every time there is a break in the skin from a cut, scrape, or incision, it creates an portal for bacteria to enter the body. Keep wounds clean and covered. Notify your doctor immediately if the wound becomes warm, red, painful, or has drainage as these may be signs of infection.
• Treating Infections: Infections that do occur should be treated quickly to avoid turning into sepsis. Bacterial infections may require antibiotics prescribed by a provider to effectively clear.  Antibiotics prescriptions should be followed exactly and to completion to avoid the bacteria become resistant to antibiotics.  Most viral infections do not require medications but there are some that can be treated with anti-viral medications and other medications.

 

References:

Rhee C, et al. JAMA. 2017;318(13):1241-1249. http://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2654187

Liu V, et al. JAMA. 2014;312(1):90-92. http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1873131&resultClick=3

Torio C, Moore B. HCUP Statistical Brief #204. May 2016. https://www.hcup-us.ahrq.gov/reports/statbriefs/sb204-Most-Expensive- Hospital-Conditions.pdf

Buchman TG, Simpson SQ, Sciarretta KL, et al. Crit Care Med. 2020;48(3):302-318. https://journals.lww.com/ccmjournal/FullText/2020/03000/Sepsis_Among_Medicare_Beneficiaries__3__The.4.aspx

Sepsis Alliance (2025) https://www.sepsis.org/sepsis-basics/prevention/