Sepsis is on the rise in America due to the poor health of our society and all its ills. Risk factors for Sepsis are: 

Chronic illness, which includes kidney or liver disease, AIDS, diabetes and cancer
Depressed immune system
Severe burn or severe wound

Sepsis cases are up because there are more opportunities for complicated infections from invasive procedures and surgeries.Also, many patients take immunosuppressive drugs or are receiving chemotherapy. Microbes are more antibiotic resistant and drugs that controlled infection in the past do not work as well.

Symptoms and signs of sepsis can be subtle and mistaken for other serious conditions.The key to treating sepsis successfully is the detection and immediate treatment. Sepsis can come on quickly when the patient has had a recent infection. The healthcare professional should be aware of the signs of sepsis which include high fever, abnormal sweating, fast heart rate and rapid breathing.

Know the signs and be aware. Sepsis is a killer and there are steps that must be taken quickly to ensure the patient's health.

Mary Crawford, HealthCare Employment Netowrk