Sepsis: Increasing Incidence, Causes, Disease Progression, and Compliance to CDC Recommendations

from Roger Steven

Overview: Sepsis and septic Shock are major healthcare problems. It has been described as the Achilles' heel of health care. Sepsis occurs when the immune system goes into over-drive vigorously attacking an expanding infection. It is the No. 1 inpatient hospital expense in the United States, with costs surging by 3X over the last decade to $27 billion. Sepsis is a leading cause of death, morbidity and expense responsible for one third to one-half of hospitalized patients' deaths. In the U.S., more than 1.5 million people develop sepsis, of whom over 250,000 die as a result. It has now become one of the top five causes of hospitalization in for those over the age of 18.

Like stroke, or myocardial infarction, early identification and appropriate management in the initial hours after sepsis develops saves lives and reduces the long-term complications suffered by a large numbers of survivors. This is why a comprehensive plan to detect, treat, and prevent sepsis must be an essential pillar of any serious effort to improve care and to drive down healthcare and national costs. To address this continually escalating concern, CDC has initiated the "Get Ahead of Sepsis" program that emphasizes the need to inform the public, educate patients, prevent infections, suspect and identify sepsis early, and start sepsis treatment fast. Former CDC Director Brenda Fitzgerald stated that, "Detecting sepsis early and starting immediate treatment is often the difference between life and death." To most, this just seems logical, "just do it!" However, there are many difficulties to be overcome. Now, fast would mean that when a patient spikes a fever for an unknown reason, doctors usually send blood samples to be cultured. However, the can take an enormously long time - up to six days - to get the results. In addition, these cultures miss 35 percent to 50 percent of infections.

Given the time it takes and the uncertainty of blood cultures, if a patient is at high risk for sepsis or if it is suspected, the clinician will immediately prescribe antibiotics. Doctors know that this represents overtreatment, since sepsis is often indistinguishable from other much less-serious health concerns. However, you fail to treat if you have any reason to suspect sepsis, because a patient's risk of dying rises as much as 8% per hour if the infection is improperly treated or delayed. Sepsis can rapidly cause severe tissue damage, organ dysfunction, organ failure and death. One markedly tragic complication is that of hypoxia to the extremities. The body focuses first on its efforts to stay alive. In doing so, blood and oxygen are diverted from the tissues in the legs and arms. Unfortunately, individuals that survive at this stage may have to have their necrotic extremities removed.

CDC has developed new guidelines with new definitions, recommendations to facilitate rapid diagnosis, and outline pathways for treatment. Recognizing that the public needs to understand how important it is to prevent infection in the first place, but also to recognize the symptoms of sepsis and to immediately seek medical treatment sepsis is suspected. This is particularly important as mast cases of sepsis begin outside the hospital.

The CDC summarizes that to solve the sepsis problem; a three-pronged solution is required: 1.) continued improvements in hospital processes to prevent sepsis and its escalation for those entering the hospital that already show symptoms; 2.) improved diagnostics to get patients on targeted treatment faster; 3.) and development of new antibiotics and means of treatment. This course will describe actions by the immune system, blood vessels alterations, and the presence of physiological indicators during sepsis, symptoms, disease progression, and treatment at a basic and intermediate level. Case studies will be utilized. The new guidelines will be discussed. Recommendations for patient education will be presented. New government programs to encourage and accelerate new and faster methods of diagnostics and means of treatment will be explained.

In addition, this work urges patients and their families to prevent infections, be alert to the symptoms of sepsis, and seek immediate medical care if sepsis is suspected or for an infection that is not improving or is getting worse.

Why should you Attend: Because of the high death rate, severity of long-term complications endured by many survivors, the high US cost of over $27 billion and the extremely critical need for immediate treatment makes this a course everyone from the potential patient, parents, school nurses, healthcare practitioners, ER and urgent care center staff, nurses and emergency service personnel should attend this course. Sepsis is the overly vigorous response to infection. Because the patient's risk of dying rises as much as 8% per hour that the infection is improperly treated or delayed, this is a condition we all need to be very aware of. The CDC is trying to educate the public and healthcare practitioners, has developed new guidelines, and is working with FDA and government finances to support programs for more rapid diagnostics and treatments that are more effective.

Areas Covered in the Session:

Explain extent of sepsis cost to the nation ($27 billion)
Specify the death rate and the extent of severe life-long complications of many survivors
Describe the pathogenesis of sepsis: what is happening in the body
Explain the severe urgency for rapid diagnostics and treatment
Outline the new CDC guideline for Sepsis
Discuss the importance of patient and general public education on the symptoms and urgency for immediate treatment if it sepsis is suspected
List the pre-illnesses that often preclude sepsis
Discuss the conflict between Sepsis immediate broad-spectrum antibiotic and the often conflicting action for reducing the spread of antibiotic resistance
Present the CDCs program for addressing sepsis
Highlight the work of the CDC, FDA and government incentives to develop new diagnostics and treatments


Who Will Benefit:

Joe Public (Parents for Example)
Healthcare Staff from Aids to Nurses and Doctors
Diagnostic Lab Technologists and Technicians
Pharmaceutical Development Labs
EMS Personnel (Private, Police, Fire)
ER Staph
Urgent Care Staff
Hospital Risk Managers

Speaker Profile

Wava Truscott , PhD. MBA, is founder and president of Truscott MedSci Associates, a consulting company addressing current concerns in healthcare including infection prevention, improved patient outcomes, and staff risk reduction. Development of accredited educational courses, speaking engagements, topic research, writing articles, and assisting with experimental design are core competencies. She is an international lecturer having presented in 17 countries and has written over 90 articles and 7 book chapters.

Price - $139
Contact Info:
Netzealous - MentorHealth
Phone No: 1-800-385-1607
Fax: 302-288-6884
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.mentorhealth.com/
Webinar Sponsorship: https://www.mentorhealth.com/control/webinar-sponsorship/
(from )

37.4850454
-121.9275804
Something wrong? Flag this event