Risk Factors
People who are at risk of Sepsis
Who is EVERYONE?
Four types of infection that can lead to Sepsis
What are parasites, fungi, viruses and bacteria?
An intense, uncontrolled immune response to infection that can cause injury to tissues and organs
What is sepsis?
Symptoms more typical of an older person with sepsis, than a younger person with sepsis
What are sudden functional decline, falls and changed mental state?
These 2 factors can make accurate history difficult to obtain, or mean symptoms may not be relayed to family, carers or health staff
What are living alone & cognitive impairment?
Frequent visits to these places can lead to higher risk of infections and Sepsis
What are hospitalisations?
The four most common causes of Sepsis in all people
What are GI, respiratory, genitourinary & wounds/skin?
When several organs stop functioning in Sepsis or Septic shock
What is multi-organ failure?
Observations that tend to decrease or drop in the older person with Sepsis
What are temp, BP and O2 sats?
These chronic diseases, commonly experienced by older people, increase risk of infections and Sepsis
What are CKD, DM, CHF, HD and COPD?
Diseases or medications can sometimes compromise this essential infection-fighting body system
What is the immune system?
The body's largest organ & primary barrier to infection
What is the skin?
Chronic low grade "sterile" inflammation, without signs of infection, sometimes seen in older people
What is inflammaging?
Observations that tend to elevate in older people with Sepsis
What are heart rate and respiratory rate?
Poor oral hygiene, reduced appetite, altered taste & smell, impaired swllowing can lead to this body imbalance
What is malnutrition?
A group of people who experience twice the population rate of Sepsis
Who are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people?
A medical device that older people commonly have that can increase risk of infection
What is a urinary catheter?
Aging of the immune system which makes older people more susceptible to infection & Sepsis
What is immunosenescence?
Signs of changes to the body's perfusion, sometimes seen in older people with later stage Sepsis
What are skin mottling, cyanosis, pallor and delayed cap refill?
Older people often take 5 or more of these, some of which can mask symptoms of Sepsis or reduce immunity
What are medications?
A chronic disease that can increase risk of infection by 1.5 to 4 times
What is Diabetes
The most common sources of infection in older people that can lead to Sepsis
What are genitourinary and respiratory infections?
Cardiocirculatory failure that can occur during Sepsis, leading to a sudden BP drop
What is septic shock?
Concerns from these people are just as important to consider as the observable signs & symptoms of Sepsis
Who are clients, families and carers?
The body's extra capacity to function beyond normal levels when experiencing physical stress or illness, reduced in frail older people
What is physiological reserve?