Sepsis awareness – becoming ‘Sepsis Savvy’

September marks Sepsis Awareness Month, and with it an important opportunity to reflect on the condition and the signs to look out for.

What is sepsis?

Sepsis is a life-threatening condition that arises when the body’s response to an infection injures its own tissues and organs, with the immune system going into overdrive.

Sepsis can lead to shock, multiple organ failure and even death if not recognised and treated promptly.

Sepsis always starts with an infection, however, not every infection will cause someone to develop sepsis.

Sepsis most commonly develops from a bacterial infection, but it can also develop from both fungal and viral infections. Common infections precipitating sepsis include:

• Chest infections (pneumonia)
• Urinary tract infections
• Abdominal infections (appendicitis, gall bladder infection)
• Skin, soft tissue infections (cellulitis, wound infections)

It is not known why some people develop sepsis in response to these common infections whereas others do not.

Signs of sepsis

How to spot sepsis in adults – think ‘SEPSIS’:

• Slurred speech or confusion
• Extreme shivering or muscle pain
• Passing no urine (in a day)
• Severe breathlessness
• It feels like you’re going to die
• Skin mottled or discoloured

A child may have sepsis if they:

• Are breathing very fast
• Have a ‘fit’ or convulsion
• Look mottled, bluish, or pale – on darker pigmented skin, colour changes may show on the inside of the forearms or palms
• Have a rash that does not fade when you press it
• Are very lethargic or difficult to wake
• Feel abnormally cold to touch

A child under 5 may have sepsis if they:

• Are not feeding
• Are vomiting repeatedly
• Have not passed urine for 12 hours

The importance of becoming ‘Sepsis Savvy’

The UK Sepsis Trust is a charity that raises awareness of the condition and supports those who have been affected by sepsis.

The UK Sepsis Trust highlights the importance of becoming Sepsis Savvy:

• Sepsis can affect anyone: it does not discriminate by age, gender, and while certain people are more at-risk, it can affect people who are generally healthy.
• Early detection is key: quick treatment can save lives and sepsis requires urgent hospital attendance.
• It is easy to learn: in just 5 minutes, you can arm yourself with life-saving knowledge. There are a wealth of resources available.

A YouGov survey commissioned by The UK Sepsis Trust for 2024 has detected record public awareness levels of sepsis, an important step in patients, and family and friends, advocating for and receiving prompt treatment.

Early identification is key to successfully treating sepsis – we encourage everyone to take 5 minutes today to become Sepsis Savvy.