JUST ASK, COULD IT BE SEPSIS?

Sepsis is a life-threatening response to any infection that progresses quickly and requires immediate attention. Know the signs and symptoms (one or all of the following may be present).

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF SEPSIS

Rapid breathing

Rapid heart rate

Confusion, slurred speech or disorientation

Fever or shivering

Muscle pain

Not passing urine

Discoloured skin

WHAT YOU SHOULD DO!

Early-stage sepsis:

Sufferers are generally unwell, may display one or all of the signs and symptoms, feel worse than when previously sick and there is concern
Contact healthdirect at https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/ OR Call 1800 022 222 (24 hours) and ask…could it be sepsis?

Later stage sepsis:

Sufferers are seriously unwell, likely to display significant changes in multiple signs and symptoms, feel like they might die and there is serious concern
CALL 000 Ambulance or if quicker go immediately to the closest Emergency Department and ask….could it be sepsis?

Key considerations:

If concerned get advice immediately
If seriously concerned get treatment immediately
Inflammation due to infection is normal but in sepsis the inflammation response is uncontrolled, it may start mildly but rapidly escalate to critical illness
Sepsis is difficult to recognise as it may not have an obvious cause, it can look like viral or bacterial illnesses such as flu, gastro or urinary tract infection
Trust your intuition…if it doesn’t feel right TAKE ACTION and always ask…could it be sepsis?

symptom checker Call 000

Academic Papers

[UK] NICE Guidelines and Quality Standards

Recently published and updated sepsis guidelines for healthcare professionals:

Quality Standard QS213 Suspected sepsis in over 16s
https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/qs213
NICE Guideline NG253 Suspected sepsis in people aged 16 or over: recognition, assessment and early management
https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng253
NICE Guideline NG254 Suspected sepsis in under 16s: recognition, diagnosis and early management
https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng254
NICE Guideline NG255 Suspected sepsis in pregnant or recently pregnant people: recognition, diagnosis and early management
https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng255
NICE Guideline NG235 Intrapartum care
https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng235