Sepsis Red Flags
If you or your loved one has suffered because medical practitioners failed to spot the red flag symptoms of sepsis, there may be a case of medical negligence. For more information please get in touch with our team of lawyers today. We will advise whether there has been a substandard level of medical care.
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Red flag symptoms of sepsis
Sepsis is a potentially fatal condition caused by the body's response to an infection.
There are certain symptoms that will indicate the presence of sepsis. Together they are known as the 'red flag symptoms' of sepsis. They are so-called because they should warn medical practitioners of the possibility of sepsis, alerting them of the need to carry out immediate investigations.
The red flag symptoms of sepsis are:
- New onset of confusion or altered mental state
- High temperature
- Fast heartrate
- Fast and shallow breathing
If a patient is displaying these symptoms, they should be identified as having red flag sepsis.
Sepsis six
When a patient is diagnosed with red flag sepsis, further tests should be carried out in order to confirm a diagnosis.
However, this can take a matter of hours as blood and urine tests must be analysed in the laboratory. This delay is dangerous as sepsis is an extremely fast moving condition. According to the charity the UK Sepsis Trust, for each hour's delay in administering antibiotics, mortality increases by 7.6%.
Due to the risks of waiting for a verified diagnosis, medical practitioners should proceed with treatment. The treatment plan is called the 'sepsis six' and consists of the following six steps:
- 1. Give high-flow oxygen
- 2. Take blood cultures
- 3. Give IV antibiotics
- 4. Start IV fluid resuscitation
- 5. Check lactate
- 6. Monitor urine output
The patient will also require critical care support. All of these six steps should be completed within one hour of the patient being diagnosis with red flag sepsis.
Doctors failed to spot sepsis
If doctors fail to spot red flag sepsis, it can lead to devastating consequences. As mentioned above, sepsis is a fast moving condition and can develop into severe sepsis very quickly. Severe sepsis is associated with organ dysfunction. This will shortly progress to septic shock and possibly death. Even when patients do survive the recovery process can be slow and may be tainted by other health complications, such as an amputation or neuropathy.
If you or your loved one has suffered such complications because doctors failed to diagnose sepsis, please contact us to find out whether you have been the victim of medical negligence.
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