September is Sepsis Awareness Month

September is Sepsis Awareness Month

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report that at least 1.5 million people annually get sepsis in the U.S. Of these 1.5 million people, 250,000 will die. As medical professionals, we’ve all taken care of patients with sepsis. We know that sepsis causes our patients to become very sick, very quickly. The CDC defines sepsis as, “…the body’s extreme response to an infection. It is a life-threatening medical emergency. Sepsis happens when an infection you already have —in your skin, lungs, urinary tract, or somewhere else—triggers a chain reaction throughout your body.”

Basically, sepsis can occur without notice – which is why we must take it seriously and be diligent about prevent detention and prevention.