Recently, Hurricane Helene caused unimaginable catastrophic flood damage for a thousand miles. As local citizens, friends, professionals, and volunteers embark into these areas for rescue, recovery and rebuilding efforts they will be in constant contact with contaminated materials from the flood waters.
This exposure will put them in greater risk for infection and toxic exposure. At minimum proper fitting durable gloves and boots (waterproof if handling wet material and/or walking through stagnant water) to protect yourself is essential to prevent infections that can more easily turn to life threatening Sepsis. In this situation even minor cuts and small puncture wounds in the skin with contaminated material can quickly turn into a serious health crisis especially if you already have some preexisting health issues. This problem is especially important to avoid in areas where medical care is not easily available or already overburdened.
I hope the information in this article on Sepsis will assist with preventing this condition and keeping your families and communities safe. Please forward this article to anyone who can benefit from this information.
Best Practices for Preventing Sepsis
Sepsis is a preventable condition most people think will never happen to them. However, when it does happen it can be devastating to their bodies and even cause death. This article will explain what Sepsis is, the risk factors, signs and symptoms, how it happens, how it’s treated and how to prevent it.
For decades, there have been medical debates over the correct Sepsis definition and criteria. According to the Sepsis Alliance, the definition of sepsis is either “the presence of pathogenic organisms or their toxins in the blood and tissues” (bacteria in blood) or “the poisoned condition resulting from the presence of pathogens or their toxins as in septicemia.”
What is Septicemia?
Septicemia is another term for a sepsis infection. The seriousness and symptoms can vary depending on the stage: Sepsis, severe Sepsis or septic shock. Sepsis happens when the infection reaches the bloodstream, causing blood poisoning and inflammation in the body. Severe Sepsis is a further worsening of the Sepsis infection. At this point, the infection in the blood can impact organ function, such as the brain, heart and kidneys.
What is septic shock?
This is the most severe Sepsis level; blood pressure dips so low that it can cause respiratory, heart or other organ failure, stroke and even death.
Who’s at Risk to Get Sepsis?
Any infection can lead to sepsis, but certain infections and their germs are more likely to cause it. Sepsis is most often associated with infections of the skin, gut, lungs (like pneumonia) and urinary tract (such as a kidney infection). Urosepsis complicates a urinary tract infection. Some germs that often cause Sepsis include Staphylococcus aureus (staph), Escherichia coli (E. coli) and some types of Streptococcus (strep). Fungi or protozoa, such as malaria, can also cause it. People who are at a greater risk for getting a Sepsis blood infection include:
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Chronic medical conditions such as diabetes, chronic kidney disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) also heighten the risk of sepsis. These conditions often impair the immune system or cause damage to the body’s organs, making individuals more susceptible to infections that could lead to sepsis. For instance, diabetes can lead to poor circulation and neuropathy, which may mask the symptoms of an infection until it becomes severe.
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Immunosuppression, whether due to medications (such as chemotherapy, corticosteroids, or immunosuppressants used in organ transplants) or diseases like HIV/AIDS, is another significant risk factor. When the immune system is compromised, the body’s ability to fight off infections is diminished, making it easier for an infection to spread and potentially lead to sepsis.
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Invasive medical procedures and devices, such as catheters, ventilators, or surgical wounds, can introduce bacteria into the body, providing a direct pathway for infection. Hospitalized patients, particularly those in intensive care units, are at an increased risk due to the higher likelihood of exposure to healthcare-associated infections, which can quickly progress to sepsis if not promptly managed.
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Genetic factors may also play a role in predisposing certain individuals to sepsis. Some people have genetic variations that can affect their immune response, making them more susceptible to the excessive inflammatory response that characterizes sepsis.
Statistically, How Many People Get Sepsis?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), at least 1.7 million adults in the U.S. develop Sepsis, and nearly 270,000 die as a result of Sepsis. The number of Sepsis cases per year in the U.S. has been on the rise, likely due to these factors:
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There is now an increased awareness and tracking of Sepsis, so more cases may be recognized than they were previously.
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Sepsis is more common and more dangerous in those with other illnesses and in older adults.
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Some infections can no longer be eliminated with antibiotic drugs, and antibiotic-resistant infections can lead to Sepsis.
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People are at higher risk for Sepsis if they’ve undergone any procedure that requires the use of medications to suppress the immune system, including organ transplantation.
The signs and symptoms of sepsis can include a combination of any of the following:
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confusion or disorientation
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shortness of breath
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high heart rate
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fever, or shivering, or feeling very cold
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extreme pain or discomfort
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clammy or sweaty skin
Detecting Sepsis early and starting immediate treatment is often the difference between life and death. It starts with preventing the infections that lead to Sepsis.” — as stated by the CDC.
How is Sepsis Diagnosed?
Unfortunately, there is currently no “Sepsis test,” so to diagnose Sepsis, a doctor will typically run blood and urine tests. They may also take a swab of your throat, or a current wound. If any of these tests reveal an infection, and you also have symptoms of Sepsis, then a diagnosis of Sepsis will likely be made. However, sometimes samples won’t reveal an infection that is present, so additional testing may be needed, such as an ultrasound or CT scan. With this additional testing, doctors look for abnormal internal states, like bowel inflammation.
Treatment for Sepsis
The CDC states — Doctors typically treat people with Sepsis in hospital intensive care units. They try to stop an infection, protect vital organs, and prevent a drop in blood pressure. This almost always includes the use of antibiotic medications and fluids. More seriously affected patients might need a breathing tube, kidney dialysis, or surgery to remove an infection. Despite years of research, scientists haven’t yet been successful in developing an approved medicine that specifically targets the impaired immune response seen with Sepsis. Sepsis patients vary in their responses to treatment due to individual differences. Scientists are trying to find new therapies to determine which patients are likely to benefit most from a certain approach. Until scientists find an actual cure, early detection is the best bet for surviving Sepsis. A study showed that the risk of death from sepsis increases by 7.6% with every hour that passes before treatment begins. Always treat Sepsis as a medical emergency and seek medical attention if you suspect you have it.
How to Prevent Sepsis
The most powerful thing you can do to prevent Sepsis is to strengthen your immune system. This means, if you have any active chronic disease, seek a natural medicine practitioner to optimize your health, function, and immune resilience.
Stop abusing antibiotics, they are only meant to treat severe bacterial infections and certain life-threatening diseases. Excessive use of antibiotics creates antibiotic resistant bacteria which increases the risk of Sepsis.
Use proper hygiene and infection control practices. Regular handwashing with soap and water, especially after using the restroom, before eating, and after being in public places, is a simple yet powerful measure to reduce the risk of infections that can lead to Sepsis. Additionally, proper wound care, including cleaning and covering cuts and scrapes, is essential to prevent bacteria from entering the body.
For healthcare providers, strict adherence to infection control protocols, such as sterilizing medical equipment and using protective gear, is vital to prevent hospital-acquired infections, which are a significant source of Sepsis.
Properly cleaning and caring for scrapes and other wounds is very important for preventing it, since even a tiny cut can spiral into Sepsis,
If you’re under hospital care, prompt removal of IV lines and urinary catheters when they are no longer necessary can also help prevent infections that can lead to Sepsis.
If you have a blister, do not pop or break it. The blister is a protective barrier, breaking it introduces an opening in your skin. If the blister does break, treat it like an open wound, and keep the area clean and monitor it for signs of infection.
Regarding prevention, there’s two lifestyle behaviors that can have great protective effects against Sepsis.
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Eat a lower carbohydrate diet. Whenever you eat excessive carbohydrates in any form (sweeteners, juices, fruit, baked goods, grains, alcohol, ice creams, pastas, candies, starchy vegetables, etc.) essentially it puts your white blood cells to sleep and increases inflammation. Making it harder for your immune system to protect you from microorganisms. This gives infections the opportunity to spread faster through your body and harder to contain with antibiotics.
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Practice good sleep hygiene. Going to bed at a regular time and getting plenty of quality sleep helps maintain a strong immune system. Irregular sleep patterns and inadequate quality of sleep has been clinically shown to suppress the immune system and accelerate the aging process.
