Sepsis: Know the Signs and Symptoms

Sepsis Awareness Month Aims To Raise Understanding of this Leading Cause of Death in U.S. Hospitals. 

What Is Sepsis?

Sepsis is the body's overwhelming reaction to an infection (sometimes also called blood poisoning). If not treated quickly it can lead to organ and tissue damage and death.

September is Sepsis Awareness month and the CDC has educational materials describing Sepsis.

Most importantly, know the symptoms.

And if you suspect sepsis, tell your doctor and health care providers, "Could this be sepsis?"

What Are the Symptoms of Sepsis?

There is no single symptom of sepsis. It can present in any combination of the following:

• Confusion or dissorientation
• Fever, or shivering, feeling very cold
• Shortness of breath
• Extreme pain or discomfort
• High heart rate
• Clammy or sweaty skin.

Sepsis is a medical emergency. If you suspect sepsis, get to an emergency room immediately and tell them you suspect SEPSIS.

For more information, please see our Sepsis post on our Patient Safety Blog, as well as more information at:
https://www.cdc.gov/sepsis

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Questions about an injury or death due to Sepsis? Contact our medical malpractice lawyers for a free case review in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, or Rhode Island.

NH Releases Updated Hospital Infection Data

Data on healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) at New Hampshire's 34 hospitals and 27 ambulatory surgery centers shows a slight increase in reported infections over last year, but less than predicted. The reports are mandated by law to track data on the occurrence of specific HAIs. While NH hospital data is better than the national average, more progress is needed to reduce hospital-acquired infections, which account for 25% of all preventable hospital error deaths nationwide. (See earlier post on Hospital Errors.)

Hospitals

A total of 219 HAIs was reported by hospitals in 2014, compared with 183 in 2013. Compared to national data, New Hampshire hospitals had fewer observed infections.

Hospital infections tracked are:

• Central line-associated bloodstream infections
• Catheter-associated urinary tract infections
• Surgical site infections following certain 
• heart
• colon
• abdominal hysterectomy and
• knee surgeries

Ambulatory Surgery Centers

Overall, statewide infection rates in NH's ambulatory surgery centers are similar in comparison to national data. A total of four surgical site infections were reported for 2014, compared with six in 2013 and four in 2012.

Infections tracked for surgical centers are:

• Surgical site infections following certain 
• breast
• hernia
• open reduction of fracture surgeries

The reports also provide data on hospital and surgery center compliance with measures that help protect patients from healthcare-associated infections. These data include adherence to infection prevention practices during central line insertions in hospitals, the appropriate use of antimicrobials during surgical procedures in ASC, and influenza vaccination coverage among hospital and ASC healthcare personnel.

For more information on the 2014 Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAI) Hospital Report and the 2014 Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAI) Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC) Report released by The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), a Division of Public Health Services (DPHS), visit this web page: http://www.dhhs.nh.gov/dphs/cdcs/hai/publications.htm

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