Get Ahead of Sepsis – Know the Risks. Spot the Signs. Act Fast. | Patient Safety

It’s important that patients, their loved ones and caregivers, and healthcare professionals think about sepsis as a possibility. Get Ahead of Sepsis reminds these groups about the importance of sepsis prevention, early recognition, and appropriate treatment.

Anyone can develop sepsis, but some people are at higher risk for sepsis:

• Adults 65 or older
• People with weakened immune systems
• People with chronic medical conditions, such as diabetes, lung disease, cancer, and kidney disease
• People with recent severe illness or hospitalization, including due to severe COVID-19
• People who survived sepsis
• Children younger than one

A person with sepsis might have one or more of the following signs or symptoms:

• High heart rate or weak pulse
• Fever, shivering, or feeling very cold
• Confusion or disorientation
• Shortness of breath
• Extreme pain or discomfort
• Clammy or sweaty skin

People who might have sepsis should be urgently evaluated and treated by a healthcare professional