What Is Septicemia?
Septicaemia (spelt septicemia in American English) is a bacterial infection of the blood. It is often called blood poisoning.
Septicaemia is a medical emergency and must be diagnosed and treated immediately. Otherwise the condition can quickly progress to septic shock and organ failure.
Septicaemia
Septicaemia is a bacterial infection of the blood. The bacteria may enter the blood directly via a wound or burn, or the bacteria may spread from another site of infection inside the body.
Septicaemia can affect anyone, although it is more likely in the elderly, young children and people with poor health. This is because a healthy person's immune system will normally be able to fight the infection, avoiding the onset of septicaemia. But if someone has a weakened immune system, or if the infection is very aggressive, the body will not be able to keep the infection under control. It will therefore spread throughout the bloodstream.
The symptoms of septicaemia are:
- High temperature
- Extreme fatigue
- Shivering and chills – called rigors
- Rapid, shallow breathing
- Pale, clamming skin
Is septicaemia the same as sepsis?
Septicaemia and sepsis are very closely related and have identical symptoms. However, the two are slightly different.
Septicaemia is always caused by a bacterial infection. On the other hand, sepsis can be caused by bacterial, viral and even fungal infections. Furthermore, sepsis is more of a response that is triggered by an infection and can therefore include other parts of the body such as the organs.
Treating septicaemia
Whether a patient has septicaemia or sepsis, the action required is the same: urgent treatment with intravenous antibiotics. Depending upon the severity of the condition, a patient may need additional medical intervention in the form of oxygen, fluids and organ support.
This treatment must be provided urgently or the infection will quickly spread. The patient's condition will deteriorate until their blood pressure drops to a dangerously low level. This is called septic shock.
Once septic shock has set in, the organs will not get the blood and oxygen they require. This can result in multi-system organ failure.
Failing to diagnose and treat septicaemia
Should doctors fail to recognise septicaemia and/or fail to offer treatment in a reasonable timeframe, the consequences could be severe for the patient. If you or your loved one has come to harm because of medical errors in diagnosing and treating sepsis, please get in touch with us today. We will advise you whether or not you have grounds to make a medical negligence compensation claim.
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