Sepsis is a life-threatening response to any infection that progresses quickly and requires immediate attention.
Know the signs and symptoms (one or all of the following may be present).
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF SEPSIS
Rapid breathing
Rapid heart rate
Confusion, slurred speech or disorientation
Fever or shivering
Muscle pain
Not passing urine
Discoloured skin
WHAT YOU SHOULD DO!
Early-stage sepsis:
Sufferers are generally unwell, may display one or all of the signs and symptoms, feel worse than when previously sick and there is concern
Sufferers are seriously unwell, likely to display significant changes in multiple signs and symptoms, feel like they might die and there is serious concern
CALL 000 Ambulance or if quicker go immediately to the closest Emergency Department and ask….could it be sepsis?
Key considerations:
If concerned get advice immediately
If seriously concerned get treatment immediately
Inflammation due to infection is normal but in sepsis the inflammation response is uncontrolled, it may start mildly but rapidly escalate to critical illness
Sepsis is difficult to recognise as it may not have an obvious cause, it can look like viral or bacterial illnesses such as flu, gastro or urinary tract infection
Trust your intuition…if it doesn’t feel right TAKE ACTIONandalways ask…could it be sepsis?
Sepsis Australia operates within an ecosystem of health and sepsis focused organisations and individual champions all working towards reducing the burden of sepsis.
