They state that health professionals should treat sepsis with the same urgency as they would with patients presenting with chest pain. The first diagnosis to consider in this instance is a heart attack.
Sepsis should be at the forefront of all clinician's minds and they should refer any one that could have the condition to hospital via ambulance immediately.
Sepsis also known as septicaemia or blood poisoning can affect any one regardless of age, sex, gender, health status etc. It can be fatal and starts when the immune system overreacts to an infection and can cause damage to the body itself resulting in organ failure and in some cases, death.
The UK Sepsis Trust has estimated that there are around 150,000 cases per year, and on average, 44,000 are fatal.
Experts feel that between 5,000 and 13,000 cases a year could in fact be avoided.
Prompt identification and early intervention are therefore key in preventing severe illness and/or death as a result of sepsis.
The guidance announced on 13th July 2016, also provides clinicians with the signs and symptoms that clinicians should check for when presented with a patient.
It is hoped that the guidance will encourage patients and family members to voice their concerns if they even suspect that sepsis could be present.
Early symptoms include fast breathing/fast heartbeat, high or low temperature, chills and shivering, and/or a fever.
Severe symptoms can develop rapidly and can include a decline in blood pressure, dizziness, slurred speech, mottled skin, nausea and vomiting.
The guidance aims to promote early action and a 'better to be safe than sorry' approach to all NHS professionals.
