Very recently, one of my dear friends lost her husband to Sepsis, which had developed from a urinary tract infection. He had been sick with several health issues having developed over the years since his serious heart surgery.
Another good acquaintance of mine, however, survived Sepsis and would like to tell her story anonymously. Her experience begins Mother’s Day Weekend, 2013. The day before the holiday, she woke up surprisingly weak and unable to get out of bed. At first she thought that she was experiencing flu-like symptoms. Two of her neighborhood friends took her to Sherman’s Outpatient Emergency Treatment Center on Randall Road where she was treated with meds for a bladder infection and sent home.
She continued to feel bad, but because the next day was Mother’s Day and she was a mother, my friend “grinned and bared it.” The Monday after Mother’s Day brought still more weakness, pain, and total inability for her to get out of bed. Her same two friends now knew it was time to take her to Sherman Hospital’s Emergency Room. After being seen by an ER doctor, the then 74 year old was immediately admitted to the hospital’s Intensive Care Ward.
Our Sun City resident was to remain in the ICU for 8 to 10 days. There it was discovered that with very low blood pressure and Severe Sepsis diagnosis, her kidneys were already affected. A catheter was needed immediately.
Toward the end of the month of June and a one-month stay in a Sherman Hospital Room, it was found necessary for a kidney specialist to place one stent in each of our lady’s kidneys for better urinary tract functioning. At one time, our Sun Citian took 9 different meds to help keep her alive. While in the hospital, she lost hair off her entire body from the Sepsis Shock. Her poor extremities’ circulation grew worse. She had red dots on her skin, and she itched all over. She suffered from scabs around her face. Thank goodness some of these manifestations disappeared after our patient grew stronger. May they have been possibly side-effects of the medications taken?
Prior to being released from Sherman, my pal could only take 1 to 2 steps away from her hospital bed. As a result of her continued muscular difficulties, she was sent to Sherman West Court for rehab where she turned 75 years of age that July. She remained there due to the addition of two other surgeries and ensuing pneumonia. Finally, at the end of September, she was released in a wheel chair from this medical facility and her catheter was removed.
She comments, “Sherman Hospital and the Rehab Center did a great job in helping me to get well!”
With such terrible results occurring from Sepsis, how can it be diagnosed as quickly as possible? As seen in our resident’s case, the disease does mimic flu and other body disorder symptoms. Usually a physician will order a complete battery of tests to pinpoint the underlying infection so it can be treated at once. According to Mayo Clinic, these tests may also include clotting problems, abnormal liver or kidney function, impaired oxygen availability, and electrolyte imbalance.
Also depending on symptoms, one of these bodily fluid tests may be run: urine, wound secretions, and respiratory secretions. If still more testing is necessary to discover the site of the infection, imaging scans such as MRIs, CAT scans, ultrasounds, and X-Rays may be given. As seen again in our Sun Citian’s case, early and aggressive treatment is necessary to boost a successful outcome of Sepsis.
Stabilizing breathing and heart function and kidney function might become necessary. Medications used in treatment include antibiotics, vasopressors (to boost blood pressure), among other meds. Oxygen and large amounts of intravenous fluids are used often for supportive care. Surgery may be needed especially to remove abscesses.
The Scripps Research Institute has discovered rare genetic mutations, such as the TLR4 gene, that appear to be causing susceptibility to Sepsis among some individuals. As a result, prophylactic treatment with innate immune system genes (to pre-strengthen the first line of defense in the body) now is being considered in the presence of the TLR4 gene.
This would allow treatment before surgery or certain travel that might expose these patients to meningococcal bacteria. A Sepsis vaccine has also been proven protective in preliminary studies.
