Why Sepsis Is A Considerable Reason For Patient Fatalities In Rehabilitation Facilities
Wednesday, April 4th, 2012
Individuals typically have plenty of questions when a family member dies because of sepsis. It turns out that septic shock is very common particularly among the elderly. It is in fact one of the major reason patients die in hospitals. It is expected that over a 100,000 patients die because of sepsis.
Sepsis is really a reaction to a serious infection. Frequent sources of infections include an abdominal infections and a decubitus ulcer. Such sources of infection are quite common in elderly men and women in nursing homes.
The best way we have for helping people survive sepsis is to treat it right away. In case the infection goes untreated it sepsis can progress. As it progresses the patient’s chances of surviving go down. If the individual goes through septic shock his or her chance of survival plummets to around fifty percent.
A different category who have a higher risk of getting infections are cancer patients, for example, patients with cancer of the breast. Cancer patients frequently need chemotherapy which might damage the individual’s immune system. For someone in this condition, infections can pose a serious issue and can become septic. Also, chemotherapy is often given through a port which can also get infected. This same issue comes up with patients getting dialysis.
Those with an elderly family member in a hospital ought to be knowledgeable about the risks posed by infections and to talk to their physician in the event they notice symptoms or have any concerns.
This blog entry is meant only for generic informational purposes only. It is not intended as, nor should it be interpreted as, medical or legal advice. For any health or medical concerns contact a physician immediately. And if you think you may be the victim of medical malpractice contact a lawyer. A lawyer can determine whether you have a valid claim. Call the lawyer without delay because the law limits the time you have to pursue a claim.