What is Sepsis?
Sepsis (blood poisoning) is a potentially fatal disease caused by the body’s immune system overreacting to an infection.
Although our immune system can combat infection in most situations by releasing chemicals into the circulation, if our body’s response to these chemicals is out of balance, our response might trigger changes that cause tissue and organ damage instead.
Once the virus is in circulation, it can spread throughout the body and cause organ failure. If not treated immediately, it can proceed to Septic shock, a potentially fatal disease in which our reaction produces a rapid and severe drop in blood pressure, and advances to Septic shock. If not addressed, this can lead to death.
Medical malpractice claims for sepsis patients
Sepsis is a severe condition that can be deadly if not diagnosed and treated promptly. In such circumstances, the patient could file a medical negligence claim if the doctor failed to prevent, diagnose, or treat the illness and resulting infection. You may have a medical negligence claim if any of the following acts of medical negligence contributed to your development of sepsis and you suffered damages as a result of that action:
- Failure to identify an infection in a patient
- Failure to recognize a patient’s sepsis
- Failure to treat the disease or sepsis correctly or swiftly;
- Failure to perform the appropriate blood, urine, and wound secretion tests
- Failure to administer the proper antibiotics to the patient
- Antibiotics not supplied correctly.
- Failure to provide the proper fluids to the patient
- Other appropriate medical therapies, such as corticosteroids, catheters, and renal replacement therapy, were not considered or implemented.
- Failure to adequately educate the patient, or failure to get essential informed consent
Sepsis Trust in the UK
According to the United Kingdom Sepsis Trust, there are around 150,000 cases of sepsis each year, 30 percent of which are fatal. Furthermore, one-third of cases, independent patient data, and death reports from the State Confidential Survey suggested delays in detecting septic sepsis.
Sepsis may develop when the body responds to an infection. Combating the illness may cause the immune system to lead overdrive, resulting in widespread inflammation and organ and tissue damage. Sepsis may endanger life and can lead to multi-organ failure and death if not treated swiftly and effectively.
In 2015, Dr. Ron Daniels, CEO of the United Kingdom Sepsis Trust and a consultant on the first hour of sepsis diagnosis, said that patients have a survival rate of over 80% when diagnosed and treated. It is down to a 30 percent survival rate after the sixth hour.
The Health Secretary launched a UK septic awareness campaign in December 2016 to educate adults about septic symptoms and what to do if they suspect in young children. In addition, it established fast screening and effective treatment for risky patients upon hospital admission and a system to guarantee that health care workers have the information and skills necessary for sepsis identification and treatment.
The campaign started in July 2016 with a new counsel to the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) on sepsis detection, diagnosis, and early treatment.
Diagnosing along with treating sepsis
Sepsis predicts to kill 11 million people a year. Its treatment is antibiotic and should be provided immediately since septic shock, organ failure, and death in the worst instances might result. The treatment of septic diseases is associated with antibiotics.
