Blood Infection (Septicemia) is a medical life-threatening disorder in which the body is fighting a severe infection that has spread through the bloodstream.
All septicemia can be a serious, life-threatening infection that becomes worse very quickly.
It can occur from infections throughout the body, such as infections in the lungs, abdomen, and urinary tract.
It may occur before or at the same time as infections of the bone, central nervous system, or other tissues.
If a patient becomes septicemic, they will likely have low blood pressure resulting in poor circulation and insufficient blood perfusion of vital tissues and organs.
This disorder is called shock and is occasionally termed as septic shock when an infection is the source of shock to differentiate it from shock because of blood loss or from other causes.
This disorder can form either as a result of the body's own defense system or from toxic substances made by the infecting agent
Many different microbes can cause septicemia.
Even though bacteria are most often the cause, viruses and fungi can also cause septicemia.
Infections in the lungs (pneumonia), bladder and kidneys (urinary tract infections), skin (cellulitis), abdomen (appendicitis), and other areas can extend and result in septicemia.
Infections that form following surgery can also result in septicemia.
It may come before or at the same time as infections of the:
1. Bone (osteomyelitis)
2. Central nervous system (meningitis)
3. Heart (endocarditis)
4. Other tissues
Blood Infection (Septicemia) can start with:
1. Chills
2. High spikes of fever
3. Rapid breathing
4. Rapid heart rate
5. The person looks very ill.
The symptoms quickly progress to shock:
6. Confusion or other changes in mental status
7. Blood clotting disorders such as red spots on the skin (petechiae and ecchymosis)
8. There may be decreased or no urine output (due to poor kidney perfusion or dehydration)
9. Decreased body temperature (hypothermia),
10. Falling blood pressure,
The diagnosis of Septicemia may be indicated if physical examination may show:
1. Low blood pressure and shock
2. High fever
3. Signs of associated disease (such as meningitis, epiglottitis, pneumonia, or cellulitis)
Tests that can confirm infection are:
4. Blood culture
5. Blood gases
6. FBC
7. Clotting studies
8. PT
9. PTT
10. Fibrinogen levels
11. CSF culture
12. Culture of skin sore
13. Platelet count
14. Urine culture
Any patient suspected of septicemia will be admitted to hospital.
Other tests may involve:
1. A chest X-ray to look for pneumonia or
2. A CT scan to see if there is infection in the abdomen.
Septicemia is a life threatening disorder that requires a hospital stay.
Fluids and medicines are given intravenously (IV) to maintain the blood pressure.
Oxygen will be supplied.
Antibiotics are given to treat the infection.
Plasma or other blood products may be given to treat any clotting anomalies.
If a child less than 2 months of age has fever, poor feeding, lethargy, a alteration in normal behavior, or an abnormal rash, the doctor is called and the patient sent to the hospital.
If a person has confusion, dizziness, fast heartbeat, fast breathing, fever, chills, rash, or dizziness, t the patient is sent to the hospital's emergency department
The patient will likely be given oxygen, either by a tube that is placed near the nose or through a clear plastic mask at the hospital to ensure sufficient oxygen to the brain.
At the start, the antibiotics may be broad spectrum antibiotics that kill many different bacteria.
Once the blood culture results identify the bacteria, the doctor may choose a different antibiotic that destroys the specific organism responsible.
TABLE OF CONTENT
Introduction
Chapter 1 Blood Infection (Septicemia)
Chapter 2 Causes
Chapter 3 Symptoms
Chapter 4 Diagnosis
Chapter 5 Treatment
Chapter 6 Prognosis
Chapter 7 Septic Arthritis
Chapter 8 Bone Infection
Epilogue
All septicemia can be a serious, life-threatening infection that becomes worse very quickly.
It can occur from infections throughout the body, such as infections in the lungs, abdomen, and urinary tract.
It may occur before or at the same time as infections of the bone, central nervous system, or other tissues.
If a patient becomes septicemic, they will likely have low blood pressure resulting in poor circulation and insufficient blood perfusion of vital tissues and organs.
This disorder is called shock and is occasionally termed as septic shock when an infection is the source of shock to differentiate it from shock because of blood loss or from other causes.
This disorder can form either as a result of the body's own defense system or from toxic substances made by the infecting agent
Many different microbes can cause septicemia.
Even though bacteria are most often the cause, viruses and fungi can also cause septicemia.
Infections in the lungs (pneumonia), bladder and kidneys (urinary tract infections), skin (cellulitis), abdomen (appendicitis), and other areas can extend and result in septicemia.
Infections that form following surgery can also result in septicemia.
It may come before or at the same time as infections of the:
1. Bone (osteomyelitis)
2. Central nervous system (meningitis)
3. Heart (endocarditis)
4. Other tissues
Blood Infection (Septicemia) can start with:
1. Chills
2. High spikes of fever
3. Rapid breathing
4. Rapid heart rate
5. The person looks very ill.
The symptoms quickly progress to shock:
6. Confusion or other changes in mental status
7. Blood clotting disorders such as red spots on the skin (petechiae and ecchymosis)
8. There may be decreased or no urine output (due to poor kidney perfusion or dehydration)
9. Decreased body temperature (hypothermia),
10. Falling blood pressure,
The diagnosis of Septicemia may be indicated if physical examination may show:
1. Low blood pressure and shock
2. High fever
3. Signs of associated disease (such as meningitis, epiglottitis, pneumonia, or cellulitis)
Tests that can confirm infection are:
4. Blood culture
5. Blood gases
6. FBC
7. Clotting studies
8. PT
9. PTT
10. Fibrinogen levels
11. CSF culture
12. Culture of skin sore
13. Platelet count
14. Urine culture
Any patient suspected of septicemia will be admitted to hospital.
Other tests may involve:
1. A chest X-ray to look for pneumonia or
2. A CT scan to see if there is infection in the abdomen.
Septicemia is a life threatening disorder that requires a hospital stay.
Fluids and medicines are given intravenously (IV) to maintain the blood pressure.
Oxygen will be supplied.
Antibiotics are given to treat the infection.
Plasma or other blood products may be given to treat any clotting anomalies.
If a child less than 2 months of age has fever, poor feeding, lethargy, a alteration in normal behavior, or an abnormal rash, the doctor is called and the patient sent to the hospital.
If a person has confusion, dizziness, fast heartbeat, fast breathing, fever, chills, rash, or dizziness, t the patient is sent to the hospital's emergency department
The patient will likely be given oxygen, either by a tube that is placed near the nose or through a clear plastic mask at the hospital to ensure sufficient oxygen to the brain.
At the start, the antibiotics may be broad spectrum antibiotics that kill many different bacteria.
Once the blood culture results identify the bacteria, the doctor may choose a different antibiotic that destroys the specific organism responsible.
TABLE OF CONTENT
Introduction
Chapter 1 Blood Infection (Septicemia)
Chapter 2 Causes
Chapter 3 Symptoms
Chapter 4 Diagnosis
Chapter 5 Treatment
Chapter 6 Prognosis
Chapter 7 Septic Arthritis
Chapter 8 Bone Infection
Epilogue
