Trusted Sepsis Attorneys in Grand Rapids, Michigan

Yes! Sepsis causes or contributes to half of all deaths in hospitals. Sepsis causes more deaths in the United States than prostate cancer, breast cancer, and AIDS combined.

Sepsis is a life-threatening complication of an infection. If an infection is not stopped, the body’s immune system can go into overdrive. Chemicals that are released by the immune system into the bloodstream to fight the infection cause inflammation through the body. This inflammation leads to blood clots and leaky blood vessels, which results in poor blood flow. The poor blood flow causes the body’s organs to lose nutrients and oxygen. The organs start to fail. Blood pressure drops, the heart weakens, and septic shock can occur. If that happens, death can result.

Sepsis affects over 750,000 people per year. Anyone can get an infection that leads to sepsis. Common infections that may cause sepsis include pneumonia, urinary tract infection, and infections of the skin or gut. Staph, E. coli and Streptoccocus are common germs that cause infections that may develop into sepsis. Babies under one or people over the age of 65, or who have chronic medical conditions, such as diabetes, kidney disease, cancer, high blood pressure or who have weakened immune systems are at a higher risk. Also, individuals that had surgery, especially abdominal surgery, are at risk.

Common symptoms of sepsis include fever, chills, rapid breathing and heart rate. Confusion and disorientation are also symptoms, as well as clammy or sweaty skin, shortness of breath, shivering or feeling cold.

It is critically important that medical providers consider sepsis if the patient’s infection is not getting better or is getting worse. Sepsis can be initially difficult to identify, as symptoms can be vague, and can mask as related to other illnesses, even the common cold or flu. Early detection and treatment is key to combating sepsis before it develops into septic shock, which can lead to death.

Once a medical provider suspects sepsis, the diagnosis can be confirmed by laboratory and radiographic studies. A blood test can reveal signs of infection, clotting issues, abnormal liver or kidney function, decreased amount of oxygen in the blood or an electrolyte imbalance. A urine, wound secretion or mucus secretion test may help identify, or rule out, the source of the infection. Radiology tests, like x-rays, CT scans, ultrasounds and MRI, can also be important to identify the source of an infection.

Sepsis is treatable with antibiotics and IV fluids if detected early. If it is a more severe case, the patient may need kidney dialysis or mechanical assistance with breathing. Surgery to remove damaged tissue may also become necessary. Patients afflicted with sepsis may suffer lasting side effects including permanent organ damage, amputation of limbs and cognitive impairment. Patients recovering from sepsis also have an increased risk of rehospitalization within the first few months. Patients may also suffer insomnia, nightmares, panic attacks, disabling muscle and joint pain. If sepsis is not detected and treated early, death may result. The death rate increases with the severity of the sepsis: 20% for sepsis, 40% for severe sepsis and more than 60% for septic shock.