What is sepsis?

Sepsis (blood poisoning) is a serious infection that makes patients very ill. Sepsis occurs when pathogens enter the bloodstream and the body's immune system overreacts. This causes damage to several of the body's organs leading to organ function failure. Sepsis is one of the common causes of death in Norwegian hospitals, and 11 million people die each year worldwide.

 Sepsis can affect healthy people of all ages, from newborns to the very old. Patients who are debilitated by major surgery or who suffer from cancer, diabetes, obesity or cardiovascular disease, are particularly prone to severe infections and the development of sepsis.

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A study at Norwegian hospitals revealed that sepsis is rarely recognized at an early stage. This increases the risk of patients becoming seriously ill (from "Stop Sepsis" 2016-17 – nationwide supervision of sepsis treatment).

​Nevertheless, it is often possible to prevent the development of sepsis.

The faster the patient receives treatment, the greater the chance of saving organ functions and life.

Symptoms of sepsis

Sepsis often occurs in patients with common infections such as pneumonia and urinary tract infection. Occasionally sepsis occurs after being ill for several days, but often the development of sepsis is so rapid that you do not even know that you have got an infection.

You don't have to have symptoms other than feeling very ill: "I've never felt this bad before."

Symptoms to watch out for when you have an infection are:
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• Fast breathing rate (even when calm)
• Pronounced listlessness
• Tremors and chills
• Fever
• Abnormal lethargy

Just ask: could it be sepsis

What should I do?

 If you think you or anyone around you has symptoms of sepsis, contact your health care provider immediately. If you have sepsis, you should be hospitalized.

How is sepsis treated?

Sepsis is treated in hospitals with antibiotics, oxygen and fluids. The most gravely ill patients with organ failure must be treated in the intensive care unit.

What causes sepsis?

All infections can cause sepsis, but most commonly sepsis is triggered by pneumonia, a urinary tract infection or a skin infection. What triggers the powerful immune response depends on the particular bacteria and the patient's health and vulnerability.

Every minute counts in treating sepsis

The faster you receive treatment, the better the outcome

What happens after sepsis?

The severity of sepsis cases varies greatly from person to person. Patients who receive prompt treatment can avoid complications. Others may have organ failure or have to amputate limbs due to blood clots that occur during a sepsis episode.

​Norway has no guidelines for following up on people who have had sepsis. Research shows that sepsis survivors are at higher risk of a new infection and a new sepsis episode. In addition, many sepsis survivors experience after effects such as pain, anxiety, depression, concentration difficulties and reduced work capacity. These late effect complaints are collectively referred to as "post-sepsis syndrome" or "sepsis sequelae."
 

It is estimated that two million people in Europe suffer from post-sepsis syndrome. There are currently no guidelines on how to follow up on sepsis survivors. In addition, very little research in the field is available, and no European funding sources are dedicated to research on sepsis survivors.

​Contact your GP if you suspect you have post-sepsis syndrome. No patient organizations are dedicated to sepsis in Norway, but the Norwegian Cancer Society can help answer questions.