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Could it be sepsis? EDITOR’S COMMENTwith LOUISE FRAMPTON
THE CLINICAL SERVICES JOURNAL Editor
Louise Frampton
louiseframpton@stepcomms.com
Technical Editor Kate Woodhead
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STEP COMMUNICATIONS ISSN No. 1478-5641
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Sepsis is a life-threatening condition that arises when the body’s response to an infection injures its own tissues and organs. It can lead to shock, multiple organ failure and death – especially if not recognised early and treated promptly. (Source: UK Sepsis Trust). CSJ is publishing a special focus on sepsis to coincide with Sepsis Awareness Month, which
takes place each year in September. As part of its awareness raising resources, the UK Sepsis Trust offers the following aid on ‘how to spot sepsis in adults’: S lurred speech or confusion E xtreme shivering or muscle pain P assing no urine (in a day) S evere breathlessness I t feels like you’re going to die S kin mottled or discoloured
A child may have sepsis if they are: breathing very fast; have a ‘fit’ or convulsion; look mottled, bluish, or pale – on darker pigmented skin, colour changes may show on the inside of the forearms or palms; have a rash that does not fade when you press it; are very lethargic or difficult to wake; feel abnormally cold to touch. A child under 5 may have sepsis if they are: not feeding, are vomiting repeatedly, have not passed urine for 12 hours. However, with Emergency Departments facing significant pressures and overcrowding, identifying
patients with sepsis has never been more challenging. Investment in effective diagnostics and tools to support earlier recognition will be key. Healthcare professionals are also encouraged to access The UK Sepsis Trust’s Sepsis e-learning tools. These CPD accredited sepsis e-Learning modules are designed to help you understand, identify, and manage sepsis. (Visit:
https://sepsistrust.org/ healthcare-professionals/sepsis-elearning/) The public can also play their part and are encouraged to ask healthcare professionals: ‘Could this be sepsis?’ We need better recognition by families and carers to spot the signs and symptoms early, and to push clinicians to consider sepsis when they have concerns. In this issue, we hear the patient’s perspective. Lord Craig Mackinlay is a Member of the House of Lords, a former MP for South Thanet and a sepsis survivor, who lost limbs as a result of sepsis. He provides a stark reminder of the importance of diagnosing and treating the condition as early as possible and describes sepsis as ‘the poor relation’ compared to other conditions such as stroke, in terms of investment and political profile. We hear far too many stories of missed opportunities. To tackle the issue, the theme of this year’s World Sepsis Day — “5 Facts × 5 Actions” — highlights five essential truths about sepsis and five urgent actions that can save millions of lives. The Five Truths include: l Sepsis is the leading cause of death globally l Sepsis hits the most vulnerable the hardest – globally l Most deaths from sepsis are preventable l Only 15 of 194 countries invest in Sepsis l A stronger sepsis response is essential for global health The Five Actions include: l Every country should prioritise and fund sepsis response l Every country should develop Sepsis protocols and train healthcare providers l Global Health actors should prioritise and fund sepsis response l Media must play a leading role in saving lives from sepsis l Prioritise sepsis in pandemic and emergency response
You can find out more at:
https://www.worldsepsisday.org/wsd2025
louiseframpton@stepcomms.com Get in touch and give us your views, email me:
September 2025 I
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