Sepsis Is A Reason Many Lives Are Lost Dayly
Family members are often surprised when a loved one passes away and the death certificate indicates that they died of sepsis. In fact a sepsis infection is very common especially among the elderly. It is actually one of the major causes of deaths in hospitals. More than one hundred thousand men and women die of sepsis.
The elderly are at high risk of coming down with sepsis. Why? Because sepsis starts off as an infection and infections are common among elderly patients in nursing homes. Some of the types of infections most frequently seen among the elderly are a pressure sore and abdominal infections.
The best way available for helping people survive sepsis is to treat the infection right away. When the infection goes untreated it sepsis can worsen. As it progresses the odds of survival are significantly reduced. When the individual experiences septic shock the chance of survival goes down to no better than 50%.
A different category who are susceptible to infections are cancer patients, for example, those with colon cancer. A common treatment for a number of different cancers includes chemotherapy which has the potential to appreciably harm the person’s immune system. For someone in this condition, infections can pose a serious issue and can lead to sepsis. Also, chemotherapy might be administered through a port that can itself get infected. This same issue comes up with patients going through dialysis.
People ought to be knowledgeable about the risks from infections and to consult with their doctor if they recognize symptoms or have any health related issues.
This note is meant for general educational purposes only. It is not meant as, and it should not be taken to be, medical or legal advice. If you have any health or medical questions speak to a doctor without delay. And if you think you might be the victim of medical malpractice contact an attorney. A lawyer can determine if you have a valid claim. Call the lawyer immediately because the law limits the amount of time within which you can pursue a claim.