Sepsis
Alternative names:
gram-negative bacteremia; gram-positive bacteremia
Treatment:
Hospitalization is necessary to achieve treatment goals. Intravenous antibiotic therapy should be initiated as soon as the diagnosis is suspected. The therapy is not delayed while determining the causative organism. Sometimes more than one type of antibiotic is given while results of the blood cultures are pending. Antibiotics can then be changed when the culture results are available and the causative organism is known. The source of the infection should be identified if possible, which may mean further diagnostic testing. Sources such as infected intravenous lines or surgical drains can be removed, and sources such as abscesses can be surgically drained. Supportive therapy with oxygen and intravenous fluid and management of complications is important for a good outcome.
Expectations (prognosis):
The death rate can be as high as 60% for people with severely low white blood cell counts or suppressed immune systems. In people with no underlying disease, the death rate is about 5%.
Complications:
Calling your health care provider:
Call your health care provider if symptoms of sepsis occur; this condition can rapidly progress to become an emergency situation.
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