Sepsis - Septicemia & Golden Staph
What is it?
Sepsis is an extreme inflammatory reaction to ongoing infection. It causes the immune system to attack tissues or organs in the body. Left untreated, a person could undergo septic shock, leading to organ failure and death.
Sepsis can occur if you don’t treat a bacterial, parasitic, or fungal infection.
People with a weakened immune system — children, older adults, and those with chronic medical conditions — are more at risk of contracting sepsis.
Sepsis used to be called septicemia or blood poisoning.
Is Sepsis contagious?
Sepsis isn’t contagious. It may seem so because it’s caused by infection, which could be contagious. Sepsis occurs most often when you have one of these infections:
Sepsis isn’t contagious. It may seem so because it’s caused by infection, which could be contagious. Sepsis occurs most often when you have one of these infections:
- lung infection, like pneumonia
- kidney infection, like a urinary tract infection
- skin infection, like cellulitis
- gut infection, like from gallbladder inflammation (cholecystitis)
There are also some germs that more often lead to sepsis than others:
- Staphylococcus aureus (in the blood and urine) - Golden Staph
- Escherichia coli (E. Coli) (in the faeces)
- Streptococcus (in the throat and upper respiratory tract)
Many strains of these bacteria have become drug-resistant, which may be why some believe sepsis is contagious. Leaving an infection untreated is often what causes sepsis.
How does sepsis spread?
Sepsis isn’t contagious and can’t be transmitted from person to person, including between children, after death or through sexual contact. However, sepsis does spread throughout the body via the bloodstream.
Sepsis occurs when chemicals released in the bloodstream to fight an infection trigger inflammation throughout the body.
Septicemia is an infection that originates in the bloodstream.
This can cause a cascade of changes that damage multiple organ systems, leading them to fail, sometimes even resulting in death.
Septicemia is an infection that originates in the bloodstream.
This can cause a cascade of changes that damage multiple organ systems, leading them to fail, sometimes even resulting in death.
Symptoms include fever, difficulty breathing, low blood pressure, fast heart rate and mental confusion.
Golden Staph
Sepsis can also be caused by the presence of golden staph (S. Aureus). In most situations, Staphylococcus Aureus is harmless. However, if it enters the body through a cut in the skin, it can cause a range of mild to severe infections, which may cause death in some cases. Treatment includes antibiotics and intravenous fluids.
Golden Staph
Sepsis can also be caused by the presence of golden staph (S. Aureus). In most situations, Staphylococcus Aureus is harmless. However, if it enters the body through a cut in the skin, it can cause a range of mild to severe infections, which may cause death in some cases. Treatment includes antibiotics and intravenous fluids.
Stages
There are three progressive stages of sepsis:
- Sepsis
- Severe sepsis
- Septic shock
The early warning signs and symptoms of sepsis can include a combination of any of the following:
- confusion or disorientation
- shortness of breath
- high heart rate
- fever, shivering, or feeling very cold
- extreme pain or discomfort
- clammy or sweaty skin
- blotchy or discoloured skin
- nausea
- diarrhoea
- vomiting
- pain
Clinical Observations of a person with Sepsis :
- BP is low 85/50
- Pulse 104
- Respirations 28
- Skin is red, and swollen with pus around a wound or skin opening for SPC or stoma site or a PEG tube feeder.
Can sepsis be cured?
Because of problems with vital organs, people with severe sepsis are likely to be very ill and the condition can be fatal. However, sepsis is treatable if it is identified and treated quickly, and in most cases leads to a full recovery with no lasting problems.
Most staph skin infections are cured with antibiotics; with antibiotic treatment, many skin infections are no longer contagious after about 24-48 hours of appropriate therapy. Some skin infections, such as those due to MRSA, may require longer treatment. MRSA (methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus) is a staph bacterial infection that resists many types of antibiotics. If it isn't treated, it can turn into sepsis. MRSA doesn't often cause serious problems when it's on your skin. But if it gets into your body through a wound, it can.
PPE for Carers Safety
Because of problems with vital organs, people with severe sepsis are likely to be very ill and the condition can be fatal. However, sepsis is treatable if it is identified and treated quickly, and in most cases leads to a full recovery with no lasting problems.
Most staph skin infections are cured with antibiotics; with antibiotic treatment, many skin infections are no longer contagious after about 24-48 hours of appropriate therapy. Some skin infections, such as those due to MRSA, may require longer treatment. MRSA (methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus) is a staph bacterial infection that resists many types of antibiotics. If it isn't treated, it can turn into sepsis. MRSA doesn't often cause serious problems when it's on your skin. But if it gets into your body through a wound, it can.
PPE for Carers Safety
- Once a person has had Sepsis, Septicemia or Golden Staph, HWH Carers must wear gloves for all transactions, treatments or procedures with the client and their equipment at all times and continuously.
14 days after the client returns home from the hospital, extra PPE precautions are required:
- Carers must wear gloves for all transactions, treatments or procedures with the client and their equipment at all times.
- Carers should wear a mask and goggles when assisting the person with continence aids or handling their urine or faeces.
- Carers wash their clothes with laundry detergent and laundry sanitiser.
Note:
Medical conditions MUST always be diagnosed by a medical professional.
The following has been structured to provide basic information to HWH Support Workers and Clinical Care Managers.