1. Suspect Sepsis. Save Lives.

2. What do you know about sepsis?
Test your knowledge of sepsis with our pre-presentation quiz! We’ll take it again after our discussion to see what you learned.

3. What sepsis is
Sepsis is your body’s toxic response to an infection. Instead of fighting the infection, it turns on itself.
Sepsis is a major killer in the U.S., killing more than a quarter of a million people every year.
Sepsis is the #1 killer in hospitals in the U.S.
About 80% of sepsis cases begin in the community, not in the hospital.

4. What sepsis isn’t Sepsis is not blood poisoning
Sepsis is not an infection
Sepsis is not contagious
Sepsis is not rare

5. Why have so few people heard of sepsis?
Doctors tend not to use the word sepsis. Death certificates usually state the original infection or illness, not sepsis. What to do: Say SEPSIS

6. Sepsis 911 Video
Meet Sue Stull, a sepsis survivor, and her husband Jay
Sue became ill in 2014:
At first she thought it was the flu, but doctors diagnosed her with a viral illness.
She become more ill and doctors suspected she had a urinary tract infection.
Sue deteriorated very quickly and progressed to septic shock that resulted in a quadruple amputation.
This is her story.
Read Sue’s story on Sepsis Alliance’s website at Sepsis.org/Faces/Sue-Stull
Please note, some of the images are graphic and may be disturbing to some people.

7. “I felt like I was hit by a Mack truck.” – Sue Stull

8. Sepsis is a medical emergency
If you have severe sepsis, your chances of survival drops 8% every hour you are not treated
What to do:
Call 911
Tell the operator, “I think they have sepsis.”
Use the word SEPSIS

9. Why does sepsis occur?
Sepsis is a toxic response to infection. Sepsis occurs when your body starts to attack itself rather than the infection. You must have an infection to have sepsis, but the infection is not always identified.

10. Stages of sepsis Septic Shock Stage 1 – SIRS
Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome
Severe Sepsis
Sepsis
SIRS

11. Stage 2 & 3 – Sepsis and Severe Sepsis

12. Stage 4 – Septic Shock
Septic shock is the most severe form of sepsis. It is the most difficult to treat.

13. Types of infections that cause sepsis
Bacterial (most common cause of sepsis)
Can be spread many ways and result in illnesses like urinary tract infections, MRSA, and bacterial pneumonia
Viral
Can be spread by touch, body fluid exchange, and in the air, and include illnesses such as the flu and viral pneumonia
Fungal
Fungal infections most often appear on the skin, but can be caused by spores inhaled into the lungs or injected into the body
Parasitic
Such as malaria, which is spread by mosquito

14. Who gets sepsis? Anyone can get sepsis especially those:
With chronic illnesses, like COPD
Who are very young
Who are very old
Who are immunocompromised (weakened immune system)

15. Celebrities and sepsis
Muhammad Ali – 2016
Patty Duke – 2016
Jim Henson – 2010
Mary-Louise Parker – Survived
Pope John Paul II – 2005
Christopher Reeves – 2004
Chris Young – Survived
PHOTO SOURCES

16. Complications after treatment
Post-sepsis syndrome
PTSD (anxiety, depression, nightmares, flashbacks)
Organ dysfunction (kidney failure, cognitive difficulties, etc.)
Amputations

17. Sepsis prevention Hand washing Caring for open wounds
Taking antibiotics as prescribed
Staying up-to-date with vaccinations

18. What you can do: Advocate
Advocate for yourself and your loved one
Say the word SEPSIS
Know the symptoms
Visit Sepsis.org

19. Get in touch with Sepsis Alliance
Thank you
Get in touch with Sepsis Alliance
Visit Sepsis.org for more information on sepsis
Sepsis Alliance at:
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Facebook.com/SepsisAlliance
Twitter.com/SepsisAlliance