What is septicemia?

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antibiotic pills and injection with informational textSepticemia begins as any kind of bacterial infection, including an infection of the lungs, urinary tract, kidneys, or skin. When the bacterial infection enters the bloodstream, it can develop into septicemia, also known as blood poisoning.

Septicemia Requires Emergency Medical Treatment

Prompt diagnosis and hospital treatment are necessary to prevent septicemia from developing into sepsis. Nursing home staff should be aware of the following septicemia symptoms:

  • Fever
  • Rapid heart rate
  • Rapid breathing
  • Confusion
  • Red dots on the skin
  • Reduced urine output

When a nursing home resident has any of these symptoms, staff must contact a healthcare provider or arrange for transport to the hospital quickly.

From Septicemia to Sepsis to Septic Shock

Septicemia is not synonymous with sepsis or septic shock. However, without proper treatment, septicemia may develop into sepsis, and sepsis may develop into septic shock. Treatment for septicemia is typically provided in the hospital and includes antibiotics. Treatment may also include blood pressure medication, oxygen, fluids, and other treatments. Without treatment, septicemia can lead to sepsis. Sepsis occurs when someone has an extreme reaction to an infection. Inflammation occurs throughout the body and can interfere with blood flow. Sepsis can then cause septic shock. When a person goes into septic shock, her blood pressure drops to dangerous, life-threatening levels. Tissue death and organ failure may result. Sepsis and septic shock require immediate medical treatment to prevent permanent injury or death.

Has Your Loved One Suffered From Nursing Home Negligence?

Older people, people with chronic medical conditions, and people with compromised immune systems are at greater risk of developing infections, septicemia, sepsis, and septic shock. Nursing homes have a duty to protect residents from these risks by using reasonable care to:

  • Prevent infections from developing
  • Recognize the symptoms of infections, septicemia, sepsis, and septic shock
  • Get nursing home residents treatment for infections, septicemia, sepsis, and septic shock

If nursing home negligence led to your loved one’s infection, septicemia, sepsis, or septic shock diagnosis, we encourage you to contact our experienced nursing home sepsis injury lawyers today for a free and confidential consultation. Your loved one may have the right to recover significant damages for the illness she should never have had to suffer, and we will fight to help her get the compensation she deserves.

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