World Sepsis day is Friday
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It’s a common condition affecting 30-million people every year. 90,000 in Canada alone. But sepsis is also deadly. And medical experts want people to be aware. Maria Hayes has the story.
She was 14-years old and had just wrapped up chemo treatment for leukaemia. But only 3-days later, Michelle Bisaillon was thrown into another life threatening battle. A sudden fever brought her to hospital. Though Michelle’s appearance masked the seriousness of her illness:
“I actually had signed my paperwork. I was joking around with the doctors. I was still eating. The doctors were actually really amazed that I was sitting up and talking to them with the condition that I was in..”
A series of tests at the McMaster Children’s Hospital identified an infection.
“Literally, two hours later, I was admitted to the ICU and four hours later, I was intubated in an induced coma.”
The infection evolved to sepsis, worsening still to septic shock.
Dr. Melissa Parker, McMaster Children’s Hospital: “Sepsis arises when the infection induces inflammation in the body. And the inflammation then wreaks havoc and can cause damage to organs such as the heart, the kidney. In fact it can cause damage everywhere.”
And it’s not uncommon. Paediatric intensive care physician Melissa Parker sees cases daily. And that’s the concern.
“When sepsis is present, every hour of delay in treatment increases the risk of death by about 7%. So it’s very serious.”
Further complicating diagnosis is that it’s symptoms are vague.
“Certainly you may have a fever. A fever is commonly present. But there may not be a fever. Your temperature may be low. Certainly things like an elevated heart rate, confusion in the setting of things like fever would make us very worried that a patient has sepsis.”
The Hamilton specialist is part of a global campaign to raise awareness about sepsis, that can be triggered by any form of infection.
“A pneumonia, urinary tract infection, meningitis, obviously something people know is serious but any of these infections in any of those locations. We see sepsis from a mosquito bite that a child has scratched.”
Treatment involves high dose antibiotics. But the best form of prevention is handwashing, immunizations and seeking quick medical attention when something isn’t right.
Michelle: Actually, this summer, I had an infection and I knew right away that I needed to go into the hospital. I don’t take chances or risks that way especially with my history.”
Sepsis is a condition of extremes. It can be treated with a 7-day course of antibiotics. Or may require months of hospitalization and a variety of interventions.
