What is sepsis and how do you get it?

 

A: Sepsis occurs as a result of a severe infection that has spread to a person's blood stream.  A person becomes "septic" when his or her immune response to the infection triggers widespread inflammation.  In a severe case of sepsis, the patient's blood pressure can drop to life-threatening levels, often damaging major organs, such as the kidneys and liver.  Understanding the signs and symptoms of sepsis is the key to early diagnosis.

The cause of sepsis is a bacterial infection in one area of the body that gets worse over time and eventually spreads to the person's blood.  Sepsis in nursing home patients often result from preventable infections due to bed sores, IV lines, and urinary catheters. The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services says that bedsores should never occur.  So if your loved one develops sepsis from a bedsore, contact an attorney immediately.

The symptoms of sepsis can vary depending on the nature of the initial bacterial infection.  Some common symptoms can include fever, nausea, vomiting, rapid pulse, and decreased urination.  Quickly diagnosing sepsis is the key to treating it.  Misdiagnosing sepsis will delay treatment and lessen a person's chance for survival.  Once sepsis has been diagnosed, treatment options typically include broad spectrum antibiotics, IV fluids, and oxygen.

 If you believe a loved one has been injured by a failure to diagnose sepsis contact an experienced Memphis nursing home abuse attorney immediately by calling 1-888-470-9143

Bailey & Greer represents people with personal injury claims in Tennessee and Mississippi, including Memphis, Germantown, Bartlett, Cordova, Collierville, Arlington, Lakeland, and all of Shelby, Fayette, and Tipton Counties.We have also handled cases in Arkansas, Georgia, and Missouri.