When most people think of sepsis, they probably picture a frantic emergency department from their favorite hospital TV program: alarms blaring, doctors rushing around, and a critically ill patient who has just survived an extraordinary, life-altering event. (Fun fact: Sepsis has even become a recurring storyline on TV, reportedly appearing in 63 episodes across 12 different shows.)
However, sepsis itself is not limited to the kind of dramatic, ICU-level emergency we see on TV. Sepsis can begin with a much more familiar and ordinary problem: an infection. When that infection triggers a response from the body and causes life-threatening organ dysfunction, it becomes sepsis.
It is important to be aware of the symptoms, because catching sepsis early can have a significant impact on prognosis and treatment. Sepsis can happen to anyone with an infection, and recognizing the warning signs early is important because sepsis can progress quickly.
So, let’s leave the crazy hospital rooms and Hollywood storylines behind for a moment and take a closer look at sepsis in the real world: what it is, why it is important to be aware of — especially for older adults — how it can progress, warning signs to watch for, and what you can do if you recognize them.
What is Sepsis?
Sepsis is the body’s extreme response to an infection. Sepsis happens when an infection you already have triggers a chain reaction throughout your body, and your body overreacts in an effort to fight it. It can be triggered by a urinary tract infection, a lung infection, or even an infected cut or scrape.
Why is it Important for Older Adults to Be Aware of Sepsis?
As reported by the Sepsis Alliance via hospital data from the CDC, adults ages 65 years and older had a hospitalization rate for sepsis that was more than 10 times higher than adults younger than 65 and adults aged 85 and older had a rate about 30 times higher than those under 65.
How Does Sepsis Progress?
When germs get into a person’s body, they can cause an infection. If that infection doesn’t stop, it can cause sepsis. Bacterial infections cause most cases of sepsis, but sepsis can also be a result of other infections, including viral infections, such as influenza, or fungal infections.
Not all infections develop into sepsis; however, progression from infection to full-blown sepsis can occur in hours and become life-threatening.
What are the Warning Signs and Symptoms to Look Out For?
The primary symptoms physicians look at when diagnosing sepsis include:
- Fever
- Increased heart rate
- Low blood pressure
- Trouble breathing
However, sepsis can present much differently in older adults, who typically have subtle or atypical symptoms, including:
- Confusion or sudden disorientation
- Unusual sleepiness or lethargy
- Decline in functional abilities
- Hypothermia
- Clammy or sweaty skin, with or without a fever
- Decreased urine output
- Pain or discomfort
If any of these symptoms occur — immediate medical care is critical. For every hour delay in appropriate treatment, the risk of death increases by up to 8%.
What Can You Do About It?
The most important thing to do is to stay vigilant. If you develop any of these symptoms, especially during or after an infection, do not wait to seek medical attention.
Sepsis can be treated with interventions such as antibiotics, IV fluids, and medications to raise blood pressure. However, timing matters: the earlier sepsis is recognized and treated, the better the chances of preventing more serious complications.
Sepsis prevention starts with preventing infections when possible. Staying up to date on recommended vaccinations is an important way to reduce your risk of certain infections, and, in turn, the risk of developing sepsis. While not all infections can be prevented, vaccination remains an important tool for protecting your health.
To learn more about sepsis, visit the Alliance’s Sepsis page, where you’ll find additional resources and videos. For information about vaccines and how to stay up to date with the vaccine schedule that’s right for you, check out Vaccination & Infectious Diseases on the Alliance’s website.
Lauren Belsky serves as the Development Coordinator for the Alliance for Aging Research.
