Sepsis

[ayodhya]

Hi,

Can someone tell me the assessment process and techniques that can be used to assess a patient with sepsis and what's the rationale for doing it?

Thanks!

[ghillbert, MSN, NP]

What do you think?

[ayodhya]

hey i've no idea, where to start from, coz i've never come a cross a real scenario of a patient with sepsis. I just think that it could be vital signs and then may be checking on airway, breathing and circulation. Also do u knw if i have to include anything abt diagnostc tests under assessment?

Pl let me knw if u knw anything else.

Thanks!

[snoopy29]

Go on then i'll give you a leg up.......

Any form of sepsis you need to find and treat the source and correct shock.

So ABC approach, Airway establish, breathing expect pt to have elevated resps, listen to chest for evidence of chest infection, get chest xray and start oxygen high flow unless contra-indicated.

circulation - will be tachycardic but confirm rythm with ecg. Get Two big cannula's in and send blood for everything especially cultures. If BP is low and shock is indicated then start fluids.

Check GCS and blood sugar. Measure fluid output and dip urine for infection. Undress your pt and assess skin viability and any other evidence of infection for example cellulitis

Check temp and remember in the elderly lack of pyrexia is common and they are just as likely to be hypothermic.

Get a careful hx and remember drug allergies.

Choice of antibiotics varies country to country but in the UK Tazocin is the domestos of the bunch. Give anti-pyretics if needed.

Broad outline. Most hospitals have a flow chart for assessing and treating sepsis.

Good luck with it

[ayodhya]

hi snoopy,

Thankyou very much for your information. It's been a great help, now i can move on with my research for the essay,

Thanks a lot!