Sepsis Treatment and Recovery
Sepsis Treatment and RecoveryInfections of any kind can lead to serious health problems. Sepsis is one of them."Sepsis is an overwhelming infection in the bloodstream. Something has happened, a source ofinfection is present in your body somewhere. The end result is your body has been unable to controlthat and now your bloodstream has microorganisms in there to the point that your body's defensemechanisms are not able to control it."Sepsis can make you sick very quickly. It can damage or shut down multiple organs in your body and lead todeath. If your health care providers suspect sepsis, they will act right away."You will be quickly moved into an intensive care setting. You will have a special team that is workingwith you to try to diagnose and treat sepsis quickly. You may be placed in isolation, depending on thesource of that sepsis or the organisms that are identified."Doctors will first treat the infection, while keeping your vital organsworking and maintaining your blood pressure."You might be placed on multiple antibiotics at first until we're able to get back some laboratory teststhat can help us target more specifically the microorganisms that are causing that illness."Doctors will work quickly to pinpoint the specific cause of the infection."The most important thing that we do is try identify what's the organism causing it so we can treat it.And then, find out where might that group of organisms have come from. Then we're going to treat ortry to fix that problem. Treatment first while we're trying to figure out the cause."If you have had Sepsis, you may have been very sick. Once you are discharged from the hospital, recoverycan be long and slow. You may go to rehab before going home. Build a support system at home to help yourecover. You may not be able to work normally or at all at first, and some people have difficulty doing everydaytasks such as getting dressed and taking a shower.You may notice you still have: Shortness of breath; Fatigue; Mental and emotional challenges – nightmares /anxiety / depression /confusion; Weight loss from loss of appetite; And Muscle or joint pain. These symptomsmost often improve over time with continued care.Here are some tips to help with your recovery at home. Rest. Sleep. Eat small meals. If you feel up to it, beactive. Regular activity helps build strength. Prevent infection – wash your hands often – stay up to date onvaccinations – and stay away from others who are sick Watch for symptoms of complications and infectionsand get medical help when needed Take all antibiotics as prescribed even if you feel better.For more information about treatment and recovery of sepsis, visit cdc.gov.This program is for informational purposes only. Publisher disclaims all guarantees regarding the accuracy, completeness,or suitability of this video for medical decision making. For all health related issues please contact your healthcare provider.VER60422B EN SepsisTreatmentandRecovery.pdf© The Wellness NetworkPage 1 of 1
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