Understanding the Risks of Sepsis, a Disease with No Diagnostic Method.

Sepsis: A Fatal Condition with a Mortality Rate of 60%

Sepsis is a deadly disease that ranks 11th among the leading causes of death in South Korea, with a mortality rate as high as 50%. This condition triggers a severe inflammatory response throughout the body and can be caused by various infections in different organs. Particularly during seasons like spring, the risk of exacerbating from respiratory diseases to sepsis increases due to the influence of fine dust and ultrafine dust.

 

Microbial Diseases: Causes of Sepsis

Sepsis is a disease caused by microbes, where microbes that infiltrate through wounds, respiratory tract, digestive tract, etc., produce toxins, destroy the body's immune system, and induce toxic symptoms or inflammatory responses.

 

When sepsis occurs, symptoms such as sudden drop in body temperature (hypothermia), shallow breathing and rapid heartbeat, and increase or decrease in white blood cells in the blood occur. If two or more of these symptoms appear simultaneously, it is defined as "Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (SIRS)", and if it is caused by microbial infection, it is considered sepsis.

 

The most effective way to prevent sepsis is to receive influenza and pneumococcal vaccines.

 

Difficulty in Diagnosis and Importance of Prompt Treatment

The mortality rate of sepsis can rise to 60% when shock is present. However, there is no specific diagnostic method for this disease, making treatment challenging. Currently, when symptoms appear, the patient's vital signs are checked, inflammatory tests and blood tests are conducted, and then sepsis is diagnosed through blood bacterial culture. This is a time-consuming process, and depending on the patient's condition, empirical treatment may be necessary. Therefore, starting treatment within 1 hour when sepsis is suspected is crucial.

 

Treatment and Prevention

The treatment period for sepsis varies depending on the causative organism, typically requiring 1 to 3 weeks of antibiotic treatment. However, careful management is necessary if complications arise. In addition, if the infection is caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria, isolation treatment may be necessary.

 

The most effective way to prevent sepsis is to receive influenza and pneumococcal vaccines. Furthermore, personal hygiene should be strictly maintained to enhance individual immunity and avoid wounds. It is also important to wash hands frequently and ensure food is thoroughly cooked. These preventive measures greatly help in preventing the onset of sepsis.