septicemia

Septicemia(sepsis)

Bacteremia Bacteremia is just an invasion of the bloodstream by bacteria. Occurs when bacteria enter the bloodstream like during teeth brushing or arterial catheterization or may occur through a wound or infection, or through a surgical procedure or injection.
Bacteremia may be transient and cause no symptoms and resolve without treatment,
OR it may produce fever and other symptoms of infection.
In some cases, bacteremia leads to septicemia and ultimately to septic shock, a potentially life-threatening condition. Septicemia and sepsis Septicemia is the presence of bacteria in the blood (bacteremia with its toxins) leading to severe body immune inflammatory response to it and is often associated with severe disease leading to the term sepsis . Septicemia is the pathogenesis of the sepsis syndrome.
Its alternative name is blood poisoning (bacteremia with toxins).Septicemia or sepsis is a serious, life-threatening infection that gets worse very quickly leading to septic shock.
So sepsis is the syndrome of severe illness .Sepsis is caused by reaction and response of the body to overwhelming infection of the bloodstream by toxin-producing bacteria (septicemia) .Its alternative name Systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS). Sepsis is caused by and follow bacterial infection that can originate anywhere in the body; as complication. Common sites include the following: 1.The kidneys (upper urinary tract infection) 2.The liver or the gall bladder 3.The bowel (usually seen with peritonitis) 4.The skin (cellulitis) 5.The lungs (bacterial pneumonia) .

It may come before or at same time of onset of focal infection as in

Meningitis
Osteomylitis
Infective endocarditis.The infection is often confirmed by a positive blood culture, though blood cultures may be negative in10%.
In sepsis, if blood pressure drops, it results in septic shock. Major organs and systems, including the kidneys, liver, lungs, and central nervous system, may stop functioning normally specially if shock supervene.
.Sepsis is often life-threatening, especially in people with a weakened immune system or other chronic medical illnesses.
Risk factors for sepsis;
1.Age;preterm baby, & fullterm more than infants less than 2 years of age.
2. Immunodeficiency ; like neutropenia, aseplenia, sickle cell disease,AIDS,B-cell defect.
3.Debilitating illnesses like malignancy,nephrosis,malnutrition, galactosemia
4.highly infectious virulent m.o. as in contact with meningitis patient N.meningitis,H.influenza.
5.medical indwelling instruments; ventriculoatrial or venticuloperitonial shunt, prosthetic heart valves,urinary catheters.


The microorganisms type of sepsis depend on the age and the immunity:
In neonatal sepsis, Group B Strept, E.coli,Staph aureus,staph epidermidis,Listeria.
In preterm; staph epidermidis,pseudomonas is common even without focal infections.
In older infants< 2 yr with no localizing infection the m.o .are pneumococcus, meningococcus, salmonella,S. aureus, group A strept, and H.influenza if no vaccination.
Infants with galctosemia and pyelonephritis may get gram-ve bacteremia.

Sepsis may occur in immune deficiency patients without focal infection, even with opportunistic m.o. like pseudomonas,fungi,and by a wide variety of m.o.; G-ve, G+ve, anaerobic m.o,…

pathophysiology of sepsis and septic shock;

It is the body response to microbial products like antigens which trigger immune respnose by inflammatory cytokines that initiate cascade of responses producing clinical manifestation of sepsis . Clinical manifestations include; fever, profound vasodilatation and hypotension. Lung may responde by acute respiratory distess syndrome and failure of gas exchange which is 90-100% fatal. Multi-organ-system failure may occur with disseminated intravascular coagulation(DIC)
Clinical features of sepsis;
Early signs;
Fever or hypothermia as in neonate.
Chills,
Agitation,
confusion ,lethargy
Hyperventilation
Tachycardia
Hypotension
Peripheral vasodilatation
petechiae and purpura,
late signs of sepsis; septic shock;
profound hypotension
cold clammy skin,mottled skin,
cyanosis,
poor capillary refill
weak pulse,
lethargy and coma
Tests that can confirm infection include:
Blood culture 90% +ve
Blood gases; lactic acidosis
CBC neutropenia,thrombocytopenia,anemia
Clotting studies ; prolonged times due to DIC
PT
PTT
Fibrinogen levels decreased and fibrin split products increased
CSF culture
Platelet count
Urine culture
Treatment of septicemia
Septicemia is a serious condition that requires a hospital stay. You may be admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU).
You may be given:
Antibiotics to treat the infection ;for g-ve sepsis,give aminoglycoside plus anti-pseudomonas; as gentamicin and ticarcillin-clavulinate or ceftazidime.
Vancomycin for staph.aureus or epidermidis,
flagyl or clindamycin for anaerobic m.o.sepsis like in perforated viscus,
Fluids IV and
medicines by IV to maintain the blood pressure like dopamine and dobutamine, or epinephrine
Oxygen
Plasma or other blood products to correct any clotting problems
Outlook (Prognosis) of septicemia
The outlook depends on the bacteria involved and how quickly the patient is hospitalized and treatment begins. The death rate is high -- more than 50% if shock reached and reach 90-100% if ARDS developed, multi-organs failure or DIC occurs. Septicemia due to meningococci can lead to shock or adrenal collapse (Waterhouse-Friderichsen syndrome).


When to Contact a Medical Professional
Septicemia is not common but it is very serious. Diagnosing it early may prevent septicemia from worsening to shock.
Seek immediate care if:
A person has a fever, shaking chills, and looks very ill , hyperventilation.
Any person who has been ill has changes in mental status like agitation, lethargy, confusion
There are signs of bleeding into the skin; purpura or petechiae
Call your health care provider if your child's vaccinations are not up-to-date.
Prevention
Getting treated for focal infections can prevent septicemia. The Haemophilus influenza B (HIB) vaccine and S. pneumoniae vaccine have already reduced the number of septicemia cases in children. Both are recommended childhood immunizations.
In rare cases, people who are in close contact with someone who has meningitis may be prescribed preventive antibiotics.