How to understand sepsis
Septicism is a general inflammation syndrome caused by infection. When pathogens (e.g. bacteria, fungi, viruses, etc.) enter the human body, they grow and breed and release toxins. These toxins cause over-reaction of the human immune system and the mass release of inflammatory media, which in turn spread from local infections to the whole body. It’s like an enemy (pathogen) invasion in the body, the immune system rang alarms and started a massive counter-attack, and as a result, the fire (inflammatory media) spreads and affects all organs of the body. Patients may experience a combination of heat, cold warfare, breathing rushes, increased heart rate, blurred consciousness, etc. Without timely control, sepsis can cause serious complications such as infectious shock, multi-organ functional impairment syndrome and even life-threatening conditions.
There are many clinical symptoms of sepsis. The first is fever, which is a more common symptom, with body temperature often higher than 38°C, although there are also a small number of patients with hypothermia, which is below 36°C. At the same time, there may be a cold war and an uncontrollable shaking of the body. With regard to breathing, there is a rapid and accelerated rate of breathing, which is usually 12 – 20 per minute when normal adults are quiet, and may increase significantly for sepsis patients. Cardiovascular systems can also be affected, as evidenced by increased heart rate and a marked panic. Patients may also experience changes in blood pressure, which may be normal or slightly higher at an early stage, and may decrease as the condition progresses. Symptoms of the nervous system include blurred consciousness, irritation, aversion to sleep and the possibility of unconsciousness in serious cases. In addition, symptoms of damage to liver and kidney function may occur, such as less urine (less than 400 ml for 24 hours) or no urine (less than 100 ml for 24 hours) and yellow aroma (skin and membrane yellow).
• Closely monitor vital signs, including temperature, heart rate, respiratory frequency, blood pressure, blood oxygen saturation, etc., and detect changes in the condition in a timely manner. For example, the temperature of the body is measured frequently and the temperature of the heat or low is observed to improve. • Observe the state of consciousness, since a change of consciousness may be a sign of a deterioration of the condition, and a shift from irritation to sleep requires special attention. • Recording of 24-hour fluid traffic, including infusion, drinking water and urine, to provide a basis for adjusting treatment programmes. • Strict application of sterile operations, such as replacement of wound dressings and urine, to avoid new infections. Keep the patient’s skin clean and return regularly to prevent scabies from causing new infections due to prolonged skin pressure. Respiratory care • For patients who are in a coma or are mechanically ventilated, they have to turn over and slap their backs on time, facilitate the discharge of the sap and prevent further lung infection. • Ensuring the smooth flow of airways and the timely cleaning of oral and nasal secretions. Nutritional support • Provides appropriate nutrition according to the patient’s condition and gastrointestinal function. Where gastrointestinal functions permit, preference is given to intestinal nutrients, such as nasal feed, which helps to maintain the integrity of the intestinal mucous membrane and prevents bacterial transfer. • If intestinal nutrition does not meet the demand, it can be combined with intestinal nutrients, which can be supplemented with energy and nutrients from intravenous infusion. Psychiatry Care • due to the severity of sepsis, patients may experience anxiety, fear, etc. Health-care providers and families need to communicate more with patients, provide comfort and encouragement, and help them build confidence in overcoming disease.
