What is Sepsis?
According to The UK Sepsis Trust, sepsis "is a life-threatening condition that arises when the body's response to an infection injures its own tissues and organs”.
The most common sources of infection include pneumonia and urinary tract infections.
The Impact of Sepsis
The UK Sepsis Trust estimates that sepsis leads to approximately 48,000 deaths annually within the UK. That accounts for more deaths annually than from breast cancer and bowel cancer combined.
To put it in to a global perspective, it is said that sepsis has been the cause of 11 million annual global deaths compared to Covid-19 which has caused approximately 7 million global deaths over a 4 year period.
Symptoms of Sepsis
Appropriate and fast treatment depends on being able to recognise the signs at an early stage. Key symptoms include:
S - Slurred speech or confusion
E - Extreme shivering or muscle pain
P - Passing no urine (in a day)
S - Severe breathlessness
I - It feels like you’re going to die
S - Skin mottled or discoloured
The golden hour
The "golden hour" refers to the time frame within which treatment should begin from recognition of symptoms. The sooner antimicrobials are administered the better the possible outcome for the patient.
Ideally, this procedure should still be followed where it is suspected that sepsis is possible, and the patient is showing signs of shock.
Where sepsis is possible and there is no shock then the patient should undergo a rapid assessment of examinations and review of their clinical history. If concerns persist, the antimicrobials should be administered within 3 hours.
NHS procedures
NHS hospitals must have sepsis protocols in place to ensure rapid treatment is provided.
The NHS follows guidelines developed by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and the UK Sepsis Trust. They provide a framework for diagnosis and treatment.
If a patient is suspected to have sepsis, they must assess for the key symptoms and provide the antimicrobial treatment within the 1 or 3 hour window of when sepsis was suspected depending on the presentation of symptoms.
Delays in treatment
At times, the medical providers will miss the window of opportunity to treat patients. This may be due to their own failing such as:
- Failure to review notes from GP or urgent care centre
- Failure to triage a patient within the required timeframes
- Failure to think sepsis and note the key presenting symptoms
- Failure to act where sepsis is noted as possible
- Failure to listen to the patient or to their relatives
The after effect
Sepsis or the spread of sepsis can be avoided through the appropriate treatment discussed.
Unfortunately, should a patient survive, they may still suffer from the side effects long term.
According to the UK Sepsis Trust, around 40% of survivors will suffer physical, cognitive or psychological sequalae. Within one study, it was found that 43% of survivors were still not back at work after 1 year.
This shows the dire long term effects sepsis can have on a person. Their lives can change and their ability to have a normal family and working life can be taken away.
Get in touch
Our specialist team has vast experience in dealing with clinical negligence claims. We believe in using that expertise to ensure we advise and support you in a sympathetic and professional manner, to make pursuing a claim as easy as possible for you and your family. We understand and appreciate the effects of an injury or harm resulting from negligence can be devastating physically, emotionally and financially.
Speak to Lauren Goode by calling 0121 2367388 or by emailing Lauren.Goode@mfgsolicitors.com.
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