Sepsis is one of the most common diagnoses of hospitalization. When a patient is diagnosed with sepsis, it means that the patient has an infection. While patients with urinary tract infection (UTI) may be sent home with oral antibiotics and some have undiagnosed walking pneumonia with asymptomatic symptoms, patients diagnosed with sepsis are hospitalized because the infection has become a life-threatening emergency. Sepsis is the body’s extreme reaction to an infection. Sepsis occurs when chemicals released in the bloodstream to fight an infection trigger inflammation throughout the body. This can cause a cascade of changes that damage multiple organs including the lungs, heart, and kidneys. Learning this common cause of hospitalization could help CNAs be aware of what symptoms to look for.
Learning Objectives Sepsis
- Learn that sepsis is a serious medical condition that can be fatal.
- List common causes of sepsis.
- Identify the patient population that could be at risk for sepsis.
- Describe how sepsis is evaluated and possible treatment in the hospital setting.
- Lists healthy behaviors recommended by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention to avoid sepsis.