Sepsis Awareness Month: Why Early Recognition Matters

September is Sepsis Awareness Month, an important opportunity to raise awareness of a condition that can develop rapidly and have devastating consequences if not identified and treated promptly. 

Despite affecting thousands of people across the UK every year, sepsis can be difficult to recognise because its symptoms often resemble those of other illnesses. By understanding the warning signs and seeking urgent medical attention when concerns arise, lives can be saved and the risk of serious long-term harm reduced. 

In this article, we explain what sepsis is, the symptoms to look out for, the potential consequences of delayed diagnosis and treatment, and when failures in care may give rise to a clinical negligence claim.

What is Sepsis?

Sepsis is a life-threatening reaction to an infection. Sepsis can develop rapidly and, if it is not recognised and treated promptly, it may lead to serious complications, long-term harm or even death. Early diagnosis of sepsis and appropriate intervention are therefore critical to improving outcomes.

Sepsis can develop from untreated or ineffectively treated infections, and symptoms of sepsis may vary, particularly across adults, children and certain vulnerable groups. 

It is therefore so important that everyone is aware of the red flag symptoms below:

In adults, these include (but are not limited to): 

• Slurred speech/ confusion, 
• Shivering or muscle pain,
• Not passing any urine (in a day), 
• Breathlessness
• Mottled or discoloured skin.

In children, these include (but are not limited to):

• Heavy breathing 
• Fits or convulsions
• Mottled skin
• Non-fading rashes
• Lethargy and being abnormally cold

How to Take Action

• Trust your instincts: If someone with an infection is deteriorating or showing red-flag symptoms, seek emergency medical care immediately.
• Ask the crucial question: If you suspect sepsis in a clinical or emergency setting, directly ask medical staff, "Could it be sepsis?"

Use tools: You can check symptoms using resources like the UK Sepsis Trust or learn campaign details via the Sepsis Alliance.

Consequences of Sepsis

If the possibility of sepsis is not considered following abnormal symptoms or test results, or if the condition is not recognised and treated promptly, it can lead to shock, organ failure and, in the most serious cases, death.

Sepsis affects approximately 245,000 people in the UK each year and the UK sees approximately 48,000 sepsis-related deaths annually.

Delayed recognition or treatment of sepsis can have a significant and lifelong consequences, including organ damage, amputation, ongoing physical and psychological implications, and in some cases a failure to recognise and or treat sepsis can be fatal.

Sepsis and NHS Reform

As a result of the above statistics, the UK Government have initiated a ’10 Year Health Plan’ for England, named ‘Sepsis modern service framework’. This framework addresses the ways in which the NHS proposes to improve the prevention, identification, treatment and recovery of sepsis across England, whilst recognising the need to address certain health inequalities that are resulting in poorer outcomes for more vulnerable groups. 

The framework highlights not only how dangerous sepsis is, but also how challenging it can be to diagnose in the absence of a definitive diagnostic test, particularly as the symptoms may overlap with the symptoms of the underlying infection which the sepsis developed from.

While the framework represents a positive step forward, its introduction also reflects the fundamental challenges that exist in recognising and treating sepsis. It aims to promote more consistent and high-quality care, with the aim to reduce deaths, life-threatening complications, and the long-term impact of sepsis and severe infection by at least 25% by 2035.

Sepsis and Clinical Negligence

Not every case of sepsis will amount to clinical negligence. However, given the speed at which the condition of someone with sepsis can decline, avoidable harm may occur where healthcare professionals have failed to recognise or act upon the warning signs promptly.

A potential clinical negligence claim may arise when there has been:

• A failure to recognise or respond appropriately to abnormal symptoms or warning signs
• A failure to investigate abnormal findings or test results
• A failure to adequately monitor a patient whose condition is deteriorating 

A failure to consider, diagnose or treat sepsis promptly, resulting in an avoidable delay in treatment.

Making a Claim

If you or a family member have experienced sepsis and you believe that the care provided may have fallen below an acceptable standard, our Clinical Negligence team may be able to assist. Please contact us using the details below for a free, no-obligation initial discussion.

Telephone - 01273 249200 

Email – enquiries@deanwilson.co.uk

Disclaimer - This article is for general information and does not constitute medical advice.