A brief guide to Sepsis.- Signs , symptoms and immediate action to take

1. & Advanced
Clinical Quality Services
www.advancedclinicalsolution.co.uk

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Contents
05 Sepsis - What is it?
info@advancedclinicalsolution.co.uk 06 Sepsis triggers and Pathophysiology
07 Sepsis signs and symptoms
08 Assessment and Screening
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3. Issue 06 4
Foreword
Welcome to our latest issue of Hints & Tips, your regular newsletter full of
updates and information.
If there are any topics, you’d like us to cover in future issues please let
us know at info@advancedclinicalsolution.co.uk
5
SEPSIS
What is it and what can you do about it?
SEPSIS is a medical emergency and is a rare,
but very serious, complication of infection.
The official definition is:
'Sepsis is now defined as life-threatening organ
dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host
response to infection'.
If you would like further information or
would like to arrange further training for
yourself or your team, please contact us
at:
info@advancedclinicalsolution.co.uk
Why are we talking about it?
First page 3

4. Issue 06 6 7
Highest Risk Patients
- Elderley and very young
- Impaired Immunity
- Traumatic Injury/Surgery or Invasive
procedure within last 6 weeks
- IV Drug use
- Breach of skin integrity
- Indwelling lines or catheters
- Pregnancy, recent birth or miscarriage
- feeling dizzy or faint
- a change in mental state – such as
confusion or disorientation
- Diarrhoea
- nausea and vomiting
- slurred speech
- severe muscle pain
- severe breathlessness
- less urine production than normal – for
example, not urinating for a day
- cold, clammy and pale or mottled skin
- loss of consciousness
At least 2 of these plus evidence of
recent infection.
- High Temperature OR Low temperature
- Chills and Shivering
- Acutely altered mental state
- Fast Heartbeat >90 bpm
- Fast Breathing >20 rpm
- Hyperglycaemia >6.7 mmols in the
absence of diabetes
Septic shock is a subset of sepsis with
circulatory and cellular/metabolic dysfunction
associated with a higher risk of mortality
Our aim for is to help you deliver better outcomes for your patients, so it is important that
we work well for you. Please let us know about your experiences of using external
consultancies as well as any suggestion as this will help us to drive improvement. Please
forward your feedback to: info@advancedclincalsolution.co.uk
What Infections can Trigger
SEPSIS?
Any infection can trigger sepsis, but the
following types of infections are more likely
to cause sepsis:
- pneumonia
- abdominal infection
- kidney infection
- bloodstream infection
What Causes
Sepsis Response?
Sepsis is a serious medical condition
caused by an overwhelming immune
response to infection.
Immune chemicals released into the blood
to combat the infection trigger widespread
inflammation
This leads to blood clots and leaky
vessels.
This results in impaired blood flow, which
damages the body’s organs by depriving
them of nutrients and oxygen
Can lead to DIC (Disseminated
intravascular coagulation) - a condition in
which blood clots form throughout the
body, blocking small blood vessels.
Physiological effects
of SEPSIS
Micro-vascular injury -
Capillary leak, resulting in:
- Loss of fluid from the blood stream
(hypovolaemia)
- Oedema
- Drop in blood pressure (hypotension)
- Rise in heart rate (tachycardia) and
respiratory rate (tachypnoea)
- Initially bounding pulse, becoming weaker
- Decreasing urine output
Pathophysiology of
SEPSIS
Step 1: Body's immune response
is triggered.
Step 2: White blood cells to the
rescue!
Step 3: Vasodilation, Capilliary
Leak and Clotting
- B/P drops
- Less blood to organs
- Clotting in peripheries
reduces blood volume further
- All clotting factors used
- DIC Occurs
Step 4: Reduced Blood Flow to
organs.
- Not enough blood flow due
to Step 3
- Organ death starts
Step 5: Metabolic Acidosis
Step 6: Septic Shock
Step 7: Multiple Organ Dysfunction
(MODS).
Early signs and symptoms
Septic Shock
Septic Shock Signs &
Symptoms

5. Issue 06 8 9
Assessment For Sepsis
Sepsis is one of the biggest killers of people in
the UK - 5 people die from Sepsis every hour.
Due to their higher risk, elderly residents in
care homes are at a much higher risk.
In addition, awareness of Sepsis in both care
homes and the wider community settings is
not as extensive as in Secondary care.
Advanced Clinical Solutions believe in
empowering clinicians, practitioners and
organisations through training, audit and
quality improvement reviews.
Our SEPSIS training programme is designed
to suit all practitioners in community, care and
private clinic settings. The programme is
evaluated yearly to ensure the most perinent
and up to date clinical information.
Advanced Clinical Solutions offer a wide
range of further training on a multitude of
subjects:
Clinical Workshops:
- Introduction to Clinical Audit
- Introduction to Clinical Human Factors
- Introduction to Clinical Governance
- Clinical Leadership
- Managerial Effectiveness
- Engagement & Productivity
- Leading & Managing Change
- Managing Internal Stakeholder & Politics
- Introduction to Coaching Workshops
Clinical Skills Courses:
- Venepuncture
- IV Cannulation
- Injection Technique
- Syringe Driver
- Infection Prevention & Control
- IPC Champions
- Sepsis Awareness
- Pressure Area Care
- Medicines Management
- Safeguarding and Whistleblowing
- Medication Management
BOOK A SEPSIS TRAINING DAY WITH
ADVANCED CLINICAL SOLUTIONS HERE
Do you want to know more?
The National Early Warning Score (NEWS) has been shown to identify patients at
risk of deterioration.
In the context of infection,
a NEWS >5 should
always prompt a screen
for sepsis, including an
immediate check for any
Red Flags.
Screening For Sepsis
In the community, an approved tool such the one below from The Sepsis Trust,
should be used for your decsision making.
Further Resources and
Information
1. The UK Sepsis Trust: https://sepsistrust.org/
about/
2.NICE Clinical Guidance: https://sepsistrust.org/
about/
Further Training Programmes

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