SEPSIS QUESTION.....

[nurs1ng]

Hi all.

I had a pt today who came in for hyperkalemia, AMS, and UTI. She has a past hx of a. fib, CVA with ride sided weakness, pulm edema (and others that I can't remember).

Anyways, her lactic acid for the day turned out to be 3.5 with WBC at around 37. However, her temperature remained normal.

I know that sepsis requires a droplet precaution... but what type of sepsis usually requires this precaution?

Thanks for any response!

[Altra, BSN, RN]

Sepsis does not require droplet precautions. Here's some info for you to review:

Sepsis - PubMed Health

If the patient's underlying infection is determined to be or suspected to be caused by an organism requiring droplet precautions ... then that intervention is appropriate.

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

she may not be contagious. Cultures, etc will have to determine whether or not she is contagious and THEN you initiate isolation.

[Christy1019, ASN, RN]

As the last poster said, sepsis doesn't require droplet precautions unless the underlying cause of the sepsis requires it. Also, septic pts don't necessarily present with fever, sometimes they can also have a drop in their temperature.

BeLLaRN

[RunninOnCoffee]

Sometimes, especially in the elderly, they can have "cold sepsis" where their temp is actually lower. Often to the point wear the bear hugger is needed. No fever is required. Like the other posters said above the dx of sepsis doesn't in itself require isolation unless the underlying cause is an infection that requires it.

[nurseprnRN, BSN, RN]

FYI: Bair Hugger is a trade name for a warming gadget made by the Bair Company. Bair Hugger® Therapy

Most often used in the OR, where it's cold and patients are getting anesthesia agents that make it difficult or impossible for them to upregulate their own temperatures.