Sepsis Flashcards

1
Q

What are the possible risk factors which could lead to sepsis?

A
Catheter
Invasive lines
Wounds
Pressure ulcers
NG/NJ tubes
Ventilation (risk of pneumonia)
Risk of bowel perforation
Abdominal surgery
Multi-resistant organisms
Malnutrition
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2
Q

What are the nursing actions to help reduce the risk factors for sepsis?

A
Mobilise pt as soon as possible
Remove any unnecessary lines
Hand hygiene
Monitor pt
Regularly check wound site
Nutrition - dietician r/v and encourage eating
Medication
Documentation
Challenge bad behaviours by others
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3
Q

What does the NICE Guidelines (2007) for the handover of a pt require?

A
Summary of critical care stay
Monitoring and investigation plan
Plan of ongoing treatment
Physical state and rehabilitation
Psychological and emotional needs
Communication barriers/needs
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4
Q

What are the criteria for sepsis?

A

Glucose: > 7.7
Temperature: > 38.3 degrees or 20
PaCO2: 90
WCC: >12 or

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5
Q

What information is required during handover?

A
Current obs, baseline and monitoring plan - how often, criteria for informing docs if deteriorates
Blood results - CRP, U+E (K, Na, Ca, Mg) ESR, INR, PTT, platelets,LFTs, Creat, Hb, ABG
Medication - antibiotics, analgesia, any specific blood levels needed, time critical meds
Skin integrity
Pain score
Mobility
Check wound site
IVIs - date for replacement/insertion, skin intact
PMH - any allergies
Pt details - NOK
Key summary of critical care
Infection status
Nutritional status
ECG history
Bowel movement
Emotional/psychological state
Medical plan
Any communication barriers
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6
Q

What is sepsis?

A

An uncontrolled systematic response to infection that doesn’t work normally
Can rapidly escalate

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7
Q

What is SIRS?

A

Systemic inflammatory response syndrome

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8
Q

What is the severe sepsis screening tool?

A

Screening tool
Very generic
Used for new onset

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9
Q

What counts as infection?

A

Pneumonia, UTI, anything breaching the mechanical barrier of skin, C-diff, peritinitis, wound infection, meningitis, bacterial, viral, fungi, secondary infections, multi-resistant strains

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10
Q

What is the first line of priority to avoid sepsis?

A

Avoiding infection

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11
Q

What are the characteristics of sever sepsis?

A

Signs of SIRS which is interfering with O2 delivery to organs, leading to the organs shutting down
Drop in BP
MAP

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12
Q

What is the pathogenesis of sepsis?

A
  1. Pathogen enters the body
  2. Normal inflammatory response which is repeatedly triggered
  3. Overriding inflammatory response which becomes hard to control
  4. Cytokine chemical mediators
  5. Coagulation triggered
  6. Inside cell dysfunction/mitochondrial dysfunction
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13
Q

What are the symptoms of multi-organ dysfunction?

A
Stress response
Increased BM
Altered mental state
Liver dysfunction 
Lungs become "leaky" = pulmonary oedema
Oedema all over the body
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14
Q

What causes the symptoms of sepsis?

A

Systematic vasodilation = less pressure in the blood vessels
Increased capillary permeability = hypovelimia
Hyperdynamic circulation
Increased coagulation

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15
Q

What are the priorities for a pt with suspected sepsis?

A

Early identification
Sepsis care bundle
Sepsis 6

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16
Q

What is involved in the sepsis care bundle?

A

First 3 hrs = measure lactate level, blood cultures before antibiotics, administer fluids

First 6 hrs = not responding to fluid resus:CV line, HDU/ICU, measure O2 saturation of venous blood, apply vasopressors (noradrenaline)

17
Q

What is involved in the sepsis 6

A
  1. High flow O2 via non-rebreathe mask
  2. Blood cultures (all devices, swabs and samples)
  3. Give antibiotics (IV, 1 hr of diagnosis, broad spectrum)
  4. Give fluids (30 mls per KG per hr, 500 ml bolus)
  5. Check lactate and Hb (normal lactate =
18
Q

What are the nursing priorities for a septic pt?

A
Prevention of infection
Infection management
Initial resuscitation
Initiate early resuscitation measures
Psychological support
Change location of care