Yesterday (Tuesday) the HSE raised awareness of Sepsis on World Sepsis Day. At Cavan General, staff and management marked the occasion by wearing pink. One in five people who develop sepsis will die, but with early recognition and good treatment, this risk can be reduced. Recent HSE figures reported sepsis as a cause of death in the cases of more than 12,000 people who died in hospital last year. The true figure is likely to be much higher.

Hospital marks World Sepsis Day

Published: Tue 13 Sep 2022, 4:16 PM

Last updated: Tue 13 Sep 2022, 4:17 PM

Staff at Cavan General Hospital once again marked World Sepsis Day yesterday (Tuesday), September 13.

The event raises awareness of a condition that has a mortality rate of close to one in five.

In Ireland, in 2019, sepsis or septic shock was documented in 12,908 non-pregnant adults. These patients had a mortality rate of 19.7%.

This year marks the 11th anniversary of the international day of recognition, which aims to support medical staff and emphasise early recognition and early treatment of the condition.

Pushing the awareness agenda at Cavan General Hospital are the members of the Sepsis Committee.

Sepsis occurs when the body's response to infection injures its own tissues and organs. It can lead to shock, multi-organ failure and death- especially if not recognised early and treated properly.

During the pandemic, sepsis was considered the final common pathway to death from most infectious diseases worldwide, including SARS-CoV-2.

Symptoms include slurred speech, confusion or excessive drowsiness; extreme shivering and muscle pain; passing little or no urine; severe breathlessness and racing heartbeat; a feeling that a person is going to die; and a change in skin tone.

For children, the telltale signs are that the child is not feeding; they're vomiting repeatedly; and have not wet a nappy in 12 hours.