What is The doing Patient advice and liaison service (PALS) I I about Sepsis? If you have a compliment, complaint or  We have a designated Sepsis concern please contact our PALS team on Team, made up of various doctors 020 7288 5551 or and nurses with a Sepsis Nurse [email protected] readily available,  We pride ourselves with an If you need a large print, audio or translated Educational Programme for copy of this leaflet please contact us on 020 doctors and nurses to learn about 7288 3182. We will try our best to meet your

Sepsis to maintain high standards needs. of clinical care and treatment.  Staff take part in simulations with mock patients to practice treating Sepsis in different clinical situations.

 We have a specific checklist What is printed for all patients admitted with Sepsis to ensure the “Sepsis Six” is completed. Sepsis?  We have easy grab bags so that equipment is easily available for staff. Twitter.com/WhittHealth Facebook.com/WhittingtonHealth An information leaflet Where can I find out more about for patients and Sepsis? Whittington Health NHS Trust Magdala Avenue  UK Sepsis Trust at: relatives https://sepsistrust.org N19 5NF  NHS at: www.nhs.uk/conditions/sepsis Phone: 020 7272 3070  UCL Partners at: www.whittington.nhs.uk www..com/what-we- Date published: 05/04/2019 do/patient-safety/sepsis Review date: 05/04/2021 Ref: SC/Sepsis/WIS/02

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What is Sepsis? What are the symptoms of Sepsis? Will I be admitted to the Intensive Care Sepsis is when your body attacks its own Symptoms tend to develop quickly and can Unit (ITU)? organs and tissues as a severe response be vague. “It feels like you’re going to die” Most patients with sepsis are admitted to to an . You may have previously is a common statement said by victims of medical wards. If you are very sick and heard sepsis called septicaemia or blood sepsis. require closer monitoring or your organs poisoning. Sepsis is a life threatening  Early symptoms include: a high or low are failing, you may be admitted to ITU. condition, which can lead to organ failure body temperature, chills, fast heartbeat Here, we can closely monitor you, such as and death if not treated quickly. or fast breathing. checking your pulse, blood pressure,  Later symptoms may include: feeling breathing and oxygen level. In ITU we can Who gets Sepsis? dizzy or faint, confusion, severe also provide support for major organs, Sepsis can affect any person of any age breathlessness, not passing urine in 24 such as your kidneys, heart or lungs if they and is a serious condition. Some people hours, mottled or discoloured skin, are failing. We may support organs using are more likely to get sepsis than others nausea and vomiting. medications or machines, such as because they have difficulty fighting off ventilators. . For example extremes in age, How is Sepsis treated? people with certain medical conditions and When you are admitted to hospital with When will I be discharged? people on medications which reduce how Sepsis, doctors and nurses start a Follow up will be arranged if needed. Ask effective your immune system is, such as management bundle within one hour, also your medical team for information about those with an organ transplant and people known as the Sepsis Six. This bundle has your own discharge on chemotherapy for cancer. Importantly, been shown to improve outcomes in however sepsis can affect previously fit patients with sepsis. What happens when I am discharged? and healthy individuals. This is when the medical team decide that you are fit enough to return back to your What causes Sepsis? home address. They may speak with other When you catch an infection, usually the healthcare professionals, such as body is able to clear the germs without physiotherapists and occupational any help. Sometimes the body needs help therapists to check whether you need to clear the infection with antibiotics. additional help or equipment at home. The Rarely, the infection can get into the team may decide that you need further bloodstream, which causes the body to rehabilitation prior to being discharged make germ killing cells and chemicals. What does this mean? back home. These can cause damage to your organs Blood cultures: Blood is taken and sent to the lab to see if any germs grow. Antibiotics can then be changed if needed and tissues, making you very unwell. The to target any germs that grow. You may not feel 100% in yourself straight infection can start anywhere and then IV: intravenous / through a “drip” away. Sepsis is a serious condition which reach your blood. Common places for it to Fluid challenge: Fluid given quickly intravenously can take time to fully recover. start are in your chest and urinary tract. Lactate: a marker for low oxygen in your body, checked with a blood test