Elderly Patients and Sepsis: A National Crisis
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Sepsis is a dangerous affliction that can turn an ordinary infection into a much more dangerous one. Because sepsis can worsen quickly, older adults face a higher risk of death and long-term disability when they develop it. In nursing homes, elderly patients must be kept safe from sepsis.
Understanding the Basics of Sepsis
Sepsis is the body’s extreme response to an infection. It happens when an existing infection sets off a chain reaction throughout the body, and nursing home patients are at much higher risk. Anyone can get sepsis, including children, but adults 65 and older are more susceptible to it.
Sepsis often surprises patients with the diagnosis. They didn’t believe their sickness was serious enough to warrant concern. Or perhaps they believed they were properly treating the infection. Almost any infection can lead to sepsis, but it most often starts in the lungs, urinary tract, skin, or digestive tract.
The initial infection could appear mild, but if sepsis sets in, it needs to be identified right away. Sepsis is a medical emergency that can quickly lead to tissue damage, organ failure, and death. The more educated you are about the facts of sepsis and its impact on the elderly, and how it affects the elderly, the more protected our nation’s elderly nursing home patients will become.
Why are the Elderly at a Higher Risk of Contracting Sepsis?
The CDC lists adults 65 or older among the groups at higher risk. Immune defenses tend to weaken with age, so older persons have to be more aware of risks. Similarly, all nursing home staff need to be educated about sepsis to ensure the safety and health of their residents.
Chronic medical issues such as diabetes, lung disease, cancer, and kidney disease are common in older persons, and they raise sepsis risk. For instance, diabetics can develop ulcers and wounds that heal slowly and are prone to infection. Medical devices such as urinary catheters, feeding tubes, and IV lines can also give germs a way into the body.
Older adults also tend to visit clinics and hospitals more often. As with any surgery, regardless of how minor, recent hospital stays and procedures increase the chance of picking up an infection.
Alongside these facts, it’s crucial to understand that sepsis tends to be more deadly in older patients, and their symptoms can be harder to spot.
Sepsis in older adults is sometimes missed at first, because confusion or weakness may be blamed on age. A fast diagnosis and prompt treatment give the best chance of recovery.
Knowing the Signs of Sepsis
If you’re able to spot sepsis early on, you can help your elderly loved one get treatment and recover at a much faster rate. Sepsis does not have a single symptom associated with it, so doctors and nursing home staff have to be vigilant when assessing elderly patients dealing with infections.
The CDC lists these signs: confusion or disorientation, shortness of breath, a high heart rate or weak pulse, fever, shivering or feeling very cold, extreme pain or discomfort, and clammy or sweaty skin.
If you encounter someone exhibiting several of these signs, call 911 or go to the closest emergency room. Tell the medical staff right away if you think it could be sepsis. Do not let the medical staff, nurses, or your loved one disregard your worries. Ask directly, “Could this infection be leading to sepsis?”
Every hour counts with sepsis, and delays in treatment raise the risk of death. If your loved one is an older adult, medical testing for sepsis must start straight away. Staying calm during this hectic scenario is key, however.
Tips for Preventing Sepsis
The best way to prevent sepsis is to prevent infections in the first place. Staying up to date on recommended vaccines, such as the seasonal flu shot, can help prevent or lessen infections that can lead to sepsis.
Clean hands, keeping cuts and wounds clean and covered until healed, careful catheter care, and good management of chronic conditions like diabetes also help. If an infection is not improving or is getting worse, contact a healthcare provider quickly.
Antibiotics are vital for treating bacterial infections and sepsis, but they should only be used when a clinician prescribes them. Taking antibiotics “just in case” does not prevent sepsis and can contribute to antibiotic resistance.
