Sepsis Prevention Relies on Infection Prevention

Sepsis is a life-threatening condition that arises when the body mounts a severe, dysregulated response to an infection. The key to preventing sepsis is, in fact, preventing the infections that trigger it.

The Connection Between Infection and Sepsis

• Infection as the Underlying Cause: Sepsis typically develops when a localized infection—whether bacterial, viral, fungal, or parasitic—spills over into the bloodstream or tissues. By effectively preventing infections from occurring or escalating, we reduce the potential triggers for sepsis.
• Early Recognition and Intervention: In cases where infections do occur, prompt identification and treatment can prevent them from progressing to sepsis. This underscores the importance of both personal and community-based infection control practices.

Strategies for Infection Prevention

• Vaccinations: Immunizations protect against common infections (such as influenza, pneumococcal pneumonia, and COVID-19) that can lead to sepsis. Preventing these infections through vaccines not only reduces disease prevalence but also lessens the risk of sepsis in vulnerable populations.
• Personal Hygiene and Hand Washing: Consistently washing hands and maintaining good personal hygiene are some of the simplest yet most effective measures for keeping pathogens at bay. Regular handwashing reduces transmission in both community and healthcare settings.
• Wound Care: Every cut, scrape, or surgical wound is an opportunity for bacteria to enter the body. Proper cleaning, disinfecting, and dressing of wounds minimize the risk of local infection ion and, subsequently, sepsis.
• Infection Control in Healthcare Settings: Hospitals and clinics implement strict infection control protocols—including sterilization, isolation of infected patients, and judicious use of antibiotics—to reduce hospital-acquired infections. This is particularly crucial because patients in these environments are often more vulnerable to developing sepsis.
• Safe Practices in Daily Life: Managing chronic conditions (such as diabetes or chronic lung disease), maintaining proper nutrition, and avoiding exposure to harmful pathogens (e.g., avoiding crowded places during outbreaks) can also lower the risk of infection.

Public Health and Community Engagement

• Education and Awareness: Educating the public about the signs and symptoms of infections—and by extension, sepsis—empowers individuals to seek medical care promptly. Understanding risk factors and early signs can lead to quicker diagnosis and treatment.
• Policy and Preventive Measures: On a broader scale, sustained public health initiatives, surveillance, and proper sanitation infrastructure help control outbreaks and reduce the burden of infectious diseases that might lead to sepsis.

Treating infections

Bacterial infections

Bacteria can cause infections in many parts of the body, such as a cut or bug bite on your arm, your kidneys or bladder, even your lungs (pneumonia). If you have been diagnosed with a bacterial infection, you will likely be prescribed antibiotics for treatment. Antibiotics are medications that kill bacteria or stop them from reproducing.

Some antibiotics work against several types of bacteria, while others are for specific bacteria only. Partly because of overuse and misuse of these medications, some bacteria are becoming resistant to certain antibiotics. This is making it harder to treat infections. For this reason, it is essential that people take antibiotics only when necessary and exactly as prescribed.

What to do when you are prescribed antibiotics

• Follow the instructions regarding how the medication should be taken – with or without food, before or after meals.
• Take it on time (example: once a day, every six hours)
• Finish the full course (7 days, 10 days, etc.), even if you feel better earlier. The symptoms will disappear before the bacteria have been completely eliminated.
• Store the antibiotics as directed to preserve its strength.

What not to do with antibiotics

• Do not ask your physician or nurse practitioner for a prescription for an infection not caused by bacteria. Antibiotics do not work on viruses, such as colds or the flu, or other illnesses not caused by bacteria.
• Do not take someone else’s antibiotics, even if you do have a bacterial infection. It may not be the correct type or dosage, or it may have expired. It can be dangerous to take expired antibiotics.
• Antibiotics are not usually taken for infection prevention, but there are situations where this may be necessary. If your doctor prescribes antibiotics for prevention, follow the instructions carefully.

Viral infections

Most viral infections run their course without treatment, but some viral infections may be treated with anti-viral medications. If you are ill and don’t seem to be getting better, are getting worse, or are developing new symptoms, are having difficulty breathing, or you are concerned, please consult your healthcare professional. Sometimes medications may be prescribed for the symptoms caused by the virus.

Fungal and parasitic infections

Infections caused by fungi or parasites must be treated with specific medications that will eliminate the cause.

Target Population get affected

The following populations are at higher risk for sepsis and should take extra precautions to prevent acquiring and spreading infections.

• Individuals 65 or older
• Children younger than one year
• Individuals who are pregnant or post-partum
• Individuals who have survived sepsis
• Individuals with chronic conditions such as diabetes, lung, and kidney disease
• Individuals with recent severe illness, surgery, or hospitalization
• Individuals with weakened immune systems such as HIV or cancer

Prevention

While strict infection prevention strategies were adopted with high compliance worldwide during the COVID-19 pandemic, fatigue has caused most of us to relax these important habits. However, they are worth repeating and can never be over-emphasized. Clinicians working in health care settings should continue to practice these measures:

• Perform strict hand hygiene, preferably using soap or hand sanitizer.
• Wear personal protective equipment (PPE) as necessary during patient contact.
• Practice respiratory hygiene and cough etiquette.
• Follow guidelines for proper patient placement and isolation precautions.
• Keep wounds and incision sites clean and monitor for signs of infection.
• Frequently disinfect equipment and patient rooms.
• Dispose of hazardous materials appropriately.
• Follow safe injection practices.

For those at high risk for infection, and individuals living with someone who is immunocompromised, continue to maintain these healthy habits:

• Discuss appropriate vaccinations with your healthcare provider.
• Perform frequent hand hygiene, preferably using soap or hand sanitizer.
• Practice respiratory hygiene and cough etiquette
• Avoid crowded spaces.
• Wear a mask in public.
• Avoid handshakes.

REFERENCES

1. Dantes RB, Epstein L. Combatting Sepsis: A Public Health Perspective. Clin Infect Dis. 2018 Sep 28;67(8):1300-1302. doi: 10.1093/cid/ciy342. PMID: 29846544; PMCID: PMC6557150.
2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2024a, March 7). People at Increased Risk for Sepsis. https://www.cdc.gov/sepsis/risk-factors/index.html
3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2024b, April 3). Standard Precautions for All Patient Care. https://www.cdc.gov/infection-control/hcp/basics/standard-precautions.html
4. Sepsis Alliance (2022, January 13). Sepsis Prevention. https://www.sepsis.org/sepsis-basics/prevention/
5. World Health Organization (2024, May 3). Sepsis. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/sepsis

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