Sepsis: Diagnosis And Treatment

Sepsis is a life-threatening reaction to an infection! Typically, a patient's body releases chemicals to fight an infection. When this response is imbalanced, sepsis is the result! Sepsis damages several organs. If it becomes septic shock, a patient's blood pressure drops extremely low. It will drop so low that they are at a high risk of death! Several groups are the most at risk of sepsis. They include immunocompromised individuals, seniors, young children, and pregnant women!

Patients need emergency sepsis treatment at a hospital! Broad-spectrum antibiotics are provided intravenously. Other intravenous fluids for sepsis will be given within three hours of being at the hospital! Doctors have to determine the cause of the patient's infection. Then, they will give specific sepsis antibiotics! There are other sepsis medications out there too. Patients will also need supportive care for sepsis. Surgery for sepsis is a reasonably common treatment too!

Blood Tests

Blood tests are a significant diagnostic test for sepsis! Doctors draw the patient's blood from two sites to give them the information they need. For sepsis, the samples are tests for evidence of an infection and clotting problems. Doctors also need information on electrolyte imbalances, impaired oxygen availability, and abnormal kidney and liver function from these blood samples! They need to combine the results from blood tests with a physical exam and symptom evaluation for a diagnosis.

Doctors use a complete blood count to measure a patient's white blood cells. Elevated white blood cells indicate an infection! They will detect inflammation by testing the patient's C-reactive protein levels. A blood culture is necessary to pinpoint the bacteria or fungi that lead to the patient's infection! Clotting factor tests that are used include d-dimer tests, platelet counts, and prothrombin time.

Reveal more methods used to diagnose sepsis now!