Preventing Sepsis

It starts with an infection. Doctors say while many are unfamiliar with sepsis, knowing the symptoms could save your life. “We’re asking patients not to ignore fever, not to ignore chills or fever associated with a skin infection or other soft tissue infections,” explained Dr. Aaron Wohl, an emergency medicine physician with Lee Health.

The symptoms can sound vague, even generic, but doctors say these symptoms could all be a sign of a deadly diagnosis called sepsis. “Sepsis is a multisystem organ dysfunction caused by infection. Sepsis carries a mortality or death risk between 20 to 70 percent,” said Dr. Marilyn Kole, vice president for clinical transformation at Lee Health.

The life-threatening illness is caused by the body’s response to an infection. When we develop an infection, our immune system reacts, releasing chemicals into the blood stream. But if our immune system goes into overdrive, it can cause inflammation throughout the body.

“People really don’t know that it can turn so dangerous so quickly. It’s really, really important for early detection and early treatment,” said Dr. Kole.

Early detection and treatment are key to saving a patient’s life. “Time is really of the essence in sepsis. The earlier we get antibiotics on board, the earlier we intervene, the fewer fatalities,” said Dr. Wohl.

Sepsis can happen to anyone at any age—but studies show patients who are over 65, under the age of one, or have a chronic disease, are at a greater risk for developing sepsis. “Sepsis, unlike heart attacks or strokes that come in with specific symptoms, can come in with very vague symptom. It can be, ‘I don’t feel well,’ ‘something is bothering me,’ ‘I have a fever,’ and these things can turn within hours to a very, very high mortality diagnoses,” said Dr. Kole.

A blood test at any medical facility can determine if a patient has sepsis. A quick response and treatment are important in saving a patient’s life.

Lee Health in Fort Myers, FL is the largest network of health care facilities in Southwest Florida and is highly respected for its expertise, innovation and quality of care. For more than 100 years, we’ve been providing our community with personalized preventative health services and primary care to highly specialized care services and robotic assisted surgeries. Lee Health - Caring People. Inspiring Care.