Question

Septicemia is a serious bloodstream infection, can quickly become life-threatening. Describe the causes, pathogenies, epidemiology, signs and symptoms, diagnosis and treatment. Include how it can be prevented. NOT bullet points, paragraph form please!

Answer 1

Causes:

Caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bacteria,vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus species of bacteria, urinary tract infection (UTI),from an infection of a wound,sepsis seen in newborns, usually in the first four weeks after birth; sepsis neonatorum means the same as neonatal sepsis.There are many more examples of linking terms to sepsis (for example, AIDS, tattoo, spider bite). Occasionally, terms like hemorrhagic septicemia are used to describe a symptom (internal bleeding) or a sign like neutropenic cells (low number of white blood cells) that may occur with sepsis.The infectious agents, usually bacteria, begin infecting almost any organ from any location (community-acquired or hospital-acquired) or implanted device (for example, skin, lung [pneumonia], gastrointestinal tract [bacterial penetration or ruptured intestine from trauma], surgical site, intravenous catheter, etc.). The infecting agents or their toxins (or both) then spread directly or indirectly into the bloodstream. This allows them to spread to almost any other organ system. Common bacterial causes of sepsis are gram-negative bacilli (for example, E. coli, P. aeruginosa, E. corrodens, and Haemophilus influenzae in neonates). Other bacteria also causing sepsis are S. aureus, Streptococcus species, Enterococcus species and Neisseria.

Pathogenesis

Upregulation of lymphocyte costimulatory molecules and rapid lymphocyte apoptosis, delayed apoptosis of neutrophils, and enhanced necrosis of cells/tissues also contribute to the pathogenesis of sepsis.

Epideomology

Sepsis causes millions of deaths globally each year and is the most common cause of death in people who have been hospitalized.The number of new cases worldwide of sepsis is estimated to be 18 million cases per year.In the United States sepsis affects approximately 3 in 1,000 people,and severe sepsis contributes to more than 200,000 deaths per year.

Common sepsis risk factors include age (especially the very young and old); conditions that weaken the immune system such as cancer, diabetes, or the absence of a spleen; and major trauma and burns

Signs & Symptoms

The most common initial symptoms are:chills,fever,breathing very fast,rapid heart rate

More severe symptoms will begin to emerge as septicemia progresses without proper treatment. These include the following:confusion or inability to think clearly,nausea and vomiting,red dots that appear on the skin,reduced urine volume,inadequate blood flow and shock

diagnosis

physical examination to look for low blood pressure or body temperature. The doctor may also look for signs of conditions that more commonly occur along with septicemia, including:pneumonia,meningitis,cellulitis

Your doctor may want to perform tests on multiple types of fluids to help confirm a bacterial infection. These may include the following:urine,wound secretions and skin sores,respiratory secretions,blood

Your doctor may check your cell and platelet counts and also order tests to analyze your blood clotting.

Your doctor may also look at the oxygen and carbon dioxide levels in your blood if septicemia is causing you to have breathing issues.

If signs of infection aren’t obvious, your doctor may order test to look more closely at specific organs and tissue, such as:X-ray,MRI,CT scan,ultrasound

treatment.

Antibiotics

Prevention:avoid smoking,avoid illegal drugs,eat a healthy diet,exercise,wash your hands regularly and stay away from people who are sick