Did you know one of the most serious medical emergencies is preventable? That’s why September is Sepsis Awareness Month. Sepsis occurs when the body’s response to an infection injures its own tissues and organs. It can lead to shock, multiple organ failure, and sometimes death, especially if not recognized early and treated promptly. The World Health Organization has cited this as one of the most frequent causes of death worldwide. In their 2020 study, there were 48.9 million cases and 11 million sepsis-related deaths worldwide, representing 20% of all global deaths.
Sepsis: It’s About TIME is a national initiative to raise awareness of sepsis from the Sepsis Alliance. The acronym stands for Temperature (higher or lower than normal), Infection (signs of infection), Mental decline (confusion, sleepiness), and Extremely ill (severe pain or discomfort).
Hospitals play a very important role in preventing sepsis by adhering to evidenced based infection control. These best practices include timely use of antibiotics, strict hand hygiene, proper wound care, and monitoring for early signs of infection or sepsis. Patients and families can help prevent sepsis by practicing good hygiene, staying up to date on vaccinations, cleaning and monitoring wounds, and seeking medical care promptly for infections.
While prevention is the most important step, after diagnosis, early and thorough treatments raise the likelihood of recovery. People experiencing sepsis need to be monitored and treated in the intensive care unit, so they have access to life-saving measures. The Mayo Clinic outlines treatments including medications (antibiotics, fluids, vasopressors), supportive care (oxygen or dialysis), and surgery.
The attorneys at Messa & Associates are experienced at handling cases involving medical malpractice cases resulting from failure to treat hospital infections. Our extremely skilled team of attorneys and medical experts is dedicated to ensuring you receive proper compensation for your personal injuries. If you or a loved one has suffered personal injuries due to a hospital infection that was not properly treated, a medical error, or any other type of negligent care received from a medical provider, contact us for a free consultation.
