Sepsis is our first use case
Anyone can get an infection, Anywhere…… and almost every infection can lead to sepsis
What is sepsis and why does it matter
The CDC defines Sepsis as a radical and toxic immune system response to an infection that can escalate quickly into a life-threatening emergency that requires rapid diagnosis and treatment. Without rapid diagnosis to learn the source and type of infection and act quickly with the most appropriate treatment, sepsis can quickly lead to tissue damage, organ failure, and death.
Monitoring infection closely with frequent low cost testing and using rapid analytics to assist clinicians with information on how the immune system is responding is best practice. With the right monitoring data inputs, continuous analytics can prevent permanent organ damage and even death while saving hospitals and payors billions over current practices. It’s not easy……. but PERSOWN and SAS have a solution gaining traction.
Sepsis can occur in anyone with infection, injury, or non-communicable disease. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) point out:
Those at high risk
- Adults 65 years of age or older
- Pregnant of recently pregnant women
- People with chronic conditions (Lung, liver, heart)
- People with weaker immune systems (AIDS, Diabetes)
- People with recent severe illness or hospitalization
- Neonates
signs & symptoms
- Fever or low temperature and shivering
- Altered mental status
- Difficulty breathing/rapid breathing
- increased heart rate
- Weak pulse/low blood pressure
- Low urine output
- Cyanotic or mottled skin
- Cold extremities
- Extreme body pain or discomfort (5-7)
A medical assessment by a healthcare clinician is needed to diagnose sepsis but understanding symptoms is critical.
how to stay ahead of sepsis
- Take good care of yourself, especially if you are suffering from chronic health conditions
- Get doctor recommended vaccinations
- Wash your hands frequently and keep cuts clean and covered until they are healed
- Know and recognize the signs of sepsis onset
- Quickly get medical attention from a healthcare professional
Here are some great resources from the CDC for Sepsis
Suspecting sepsis is the first major step and can lead to early recognition and diagnosis