Sepsis Is A Major Contributor To Deaths In Hospitals

People normally have a good number of questions after a family member dies from sepsis. In fact sepsis is rather common particularly in those who are older. It is in fact one of the most frequent reason patients die in hospitals. More than one hundred thousand men and women die of sepsis in the US every year.

The elderly are at high risk of contracting sepsis. Why? Because sepsis begins as an infection and infections are common among elderly patients in hospitals/nursing homes/rehabilitation facilities. Some of the types of infections most frequently seen among the elderly are urinary tract infections and decubitus ulcers.

The crucial element for the survival of sepsis is treating it as soon as possible. When the infection stays untreated for a period of time sepsis can progress as it does the patient’s chances of surviving drop. Once the patient goes through septic shock his or her chance of survival drops to no better than fifty percent.

Others who are also at risk of infections are cancer patients, including patients with colon cancer. A common treatment for a number of different cancers includes chemotherapy which has the potential to appreciably compromise the person’s immune system. For someone in this condition, infections can pose a serious issue and can lead to sepsis. Additionally, chemotherapy might be administered via a port which can also become infected. This same issue arises with patients undergoing dialysis.

People need to be knowledgeable about the danger posed by infections and to consult with their physician in the event they recognize evidence of an infection or have any health related issues.

This blog entry is intended for general informational uses only. It is not intended as, nor should it be taken to be, medical or legal advice. For any health or medical questions consult a physician immediately. Should you believe you might have a medical malpractice case contact a lawyer. A lawyer can determine if you have a valid claim. Call the lawyer immediately as the law limits the amount of time within which you are allowed to pursue a case.

This entry was posted on February 7, 2012 at 9:12 am and is filed under Shopping. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.