How to Deal with Blood Poisoning, Sepsis (SIRS)

Step-by-Step Guide

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   Step 1: Get immediate

   If treated medically, very urgently people can more fully recover from the "milder, beginning levels of sepsis".
   
   Recovery becomes more and more difficult as minutes and hours pass... as any organs and limbs can be damaged beyond help by tiny blood clots and death of tissues., Infection may be unseen/internal, which can be/lead to a very serious danger, if it goes untreated.
   
   One may be mild sepsis but then can lead to severe complications including amputations, organ failure or septic shock and 50/50 and rapidly worse chance of death--not all likely, but something might develop! For example, drug resistant streptococcal bacterial infection can be a cause of great concern.
   
   Strep is very common and can cause SIRS, or it can seem to clear up after "settling" in certain organs, causing gradual damage and inflammatory conditions, and organ weaknesses can pop up later.
   
   Early stage, "mild sepsis" treated with antibiotics, quickly, is more curable, compared to the mortality (death rate) for a related condition during more severe sepsis complications, called septic shock syndrome, in which death is near 50 percent (about 1/2).,, These are possible indications of severe sepsis, requiring immediate intensive medical care: if the patient exhibits "at least one of the following signs and symptoms, it may indicate an organ(s) failing":
   Abrupt, unexplained change in mental status: such as unusually confused, disoriented or dizzy (sudden difficulty speaking or behavior changes), and possible seizures; Significantly decreased urine output (low kidney function), but this could be from extreme dehydration, such as from continual diarrhea and/or vomiting, very serious, also; Abnormal heart pumping function/significant rhythm change; Abdominal pain (possibly pancreas, kidneys or liver, etc. impaired or failing); Difficult or labored breathing, unusual fatigue, light-headedness; Lab: shows decreased platelet count. (Normally platelets are sent to sites of injury or infection, to signal and to control leukocytes and such in your inflammatory processes, but with severe sepsis they begin failing miserably!).,, Doctors often order a battery of tests to try to clearly show the underlying infection:
   Blood tests for evidence of: infection, clotting, abnormal liver or kidney function, impaired oxygen availability, electrolyte imbalances Test other bodily fluids:
   Urine may be checked for signs of bacteria.
   
   Wound secretions can help show what type of antibiotic might work best.
   
   Respiratory secretions from coughing up mucus (sputum) may determine what type of germ is causing the infection.
   
   Imaging scans are used as tests to help visualize internal problems including in soft tissue infections, such as in lungs, liver, pancreas, bowels, spine, etc. ,, An immune system weakened by such common illness are more open to sepsis, and they're avoidable.
   
   Properly clean, possibly medicate and bandage up cuts, surgical wounds, or other wounds.
   
   Even, chickenpox blisters can become infected by bacteria.
   
   Wash your hands regularly:
   And if you or your family member or friend is in the hospital, ask about all health providers washing their hands, and putting on new rubber gloves between patients.
   
   Do not take antibiotics for common ailments of three day viruses or colds:
   Such improper antibiotic use may create drug-resistant bacteria that make sepsis more dangerous.
   
   Drug-resistant bacteria.
   
   Many types of bacteria now can resist the effects of antibiotics that once killed them.
   
   These antibiotic-resistant bacteria are often the root cause of the infections that trigger sepsis. , away from:
   Cuts, sores, scratched places (avoid staph infections); Face, mouth and eyes and other body orifices (avoid E. coli infections):
   Wash hands, going in and coming out of the bathroom (water-closet), toilet, handling public door handles, etc. , Get your seven or more hours of sleep.
   
   Extensive sleep loss/deprivation is detrimental to your immune system. , Realize that Sepsis is more common and more dangerous with any of these risks:
   Are very young or very old
   -- which may have immune system weakness Have a compromised immune system
   -- such as due to certain illness, drugs/medications Are already very sick, often in a hospital's intensive care unit
   -- system is overtaxed Have wounds or injuries, such as burns Have invasive devices, such as intravenous catheters (drip or pump) or breathing tubes
   -- that may introduce infection and aggravate an inflammatory response.
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   Step 2: serious medical attention

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   Step 3: if in doubt about possibly having symptoms of either mild or severe sepsis due to a possible infection (symptoms given below).

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   Step 4: Get expert evaluation and treatment of infection

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   Step 5: with or without pain or throbbing pain.

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   Step 6: Observe symptoms of sepsis while the patient is at rest (resting rates) according doctors at the Mayo Clinic:Fever

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   Step 7: high body temperature

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   Step 8: greater than 101.3°F (38.5°C)

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   Step 9: possibly chills; Or Low body temperature

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    Step 10: less than 95°F (35°C)

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    Step 11: in a warm place

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    Step 12: perhaps shivering; Below normal blood pressure; Pulse rate is rapid

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    Step 13: higher than 90 per minute; Respiratory rate higher than 20 breaths a minute (shallow/short breath); Has a probable or confirmed infection.

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    Step 14: Seek "intensive care"

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    Step 15: if you think you see a possible symptom of "severe sepsis": If a person already may have symptoms of mild sepsis and then shows any one of the following symptoms of severe sepsis

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    Step 16: get expert medical treatment.

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    Step 17: Seek immediate treatment/hospitalization if several of those symptoms are observed: Severe cases often require antibiotics given in an intensive care unit for several days or weeks:Early treatment of worsening sepsis

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    Step 18: usually with antibiotics and large amounts of intravenous fluids

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    Step 19: in an intensive care unit at a hospital

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    Step 20: greatly improves the chance for survival

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    Step 21: before it causes blood clots

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    Step 22: gangrene or one even develops septic shock.

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    Step 23: Diagnosing sepsis can be difficult because its observable signs and symptoms can be caused by other illnesses/disorders.

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    Step 24: Show caution; watch any inflammation or infection possibly becoming worse: the beginning symptoms of sepsis all depend on where an infection started

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    Step 25: as seemingly minor as: Scrapes on a knee

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    Step 26: deep paper cut

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    Step 27: puncture by a construction nail

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    Step 28: A tampon left in place longer than intended; Stress causes/increases inflammation: Poor diet

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    Step 29: lack of sleep

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    Step 30: over-work

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    Step 31: Smoking

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    Step 32: anxiety

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    Step 33: belly fat

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    Step 34: Allergies

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    Step 35: pollution and various chemicals; Serious infections or illness including: Pneumonia

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    Step 36: lung infection causing sepsis

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    Step 37: Abdominal infections (sepsis

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    Step 38: possibly with deadly peritonitus)

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    Step 39: Kidney infection (sepsis and possible kidney failure)

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    Step 40: Bloodstream infection

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    Step 41: bacteremia (bacteria in your blood -- normally such a sterile environment -- always a very bad sign)...

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    Step 42: Avoid or prevent infections: Be immunized for illnesses

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    Step 43: such as: Influenza and pneumonia.

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    Step 44: Keep unwashed hands (Avoid germs!)

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    Step 45: Avoid sleeplessness

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    Step 46: overexertion and fatigue

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    Step 47: especially when ill or recovering from illness.

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    Step 48: Take care with the following risk factors.

Detailed Guide

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