Today’s post is somewhat of a follow-up to last week’s article on septicemia. Now, septicemia is bad, but nowhere near as bad as sepsis, or, heaven forbid, septic shock. Other than very brief references to sepsis, the only off-grid medicine text to suggest any treatment at all is Survival and Austere Medicine, 3rd Edition. I can only speculate that the omission is because once sepsis develops, recovery is near hopeless without intravenous antibiotics. There are about 1.7 million cases of sepsis in the US each year, with 270,000 fatalities. Hospital-acquired sepsis accounts for 174,000 cases, or about 6% of all hospital admissions.[1]
Sepsis is defined as an extremely inflammatory response to an infection. That infection may be caused by bacteria in the bloodstream, but it may also stem from bacteria in just one part of the body, like a urinary tract infection, meningitis, or pneumonia. This inflammation often causes blood clots and leaking blood vessels and may progress into septic shock and organ failure.
CAUSES
- Septicemia and subsequent sepsis arise from a variety of infections. The most common are:
- Urinary tract infection
- Kidney stone
- Abdominal infection
- Meningitis
- Hospital acquired infection
- Cellulitis and other skin infections[2] [3]
- Abscessed tooth[4]
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
- Mental confusion
- Rapid respiration
- Fever
- Chills
- Rapid heartbeat
- Shaking
- Warm skin
- Low blood pressure[5]
DIAGNOSIS
Definitive diagnosis requires laboratory tests, which may not be available. Using the signs and symptoms listed above as well as the patient history may be the best that can be done when there is no advanced medical care.
RISK FACTORS
- Age—infants, young children, and the elderly
- Immunocompromised
- Those with chronic illnesses
- Individuals with recent (within the last 90 days) hospitalization
- Individuals with recent use (within the last 90 days) of some antibiotics (3rd/4th generation cephalosporin, lincosamide, fluoroquinolone, beta-lactam/beta-lactamase inhibitor combinations, oral vancomycin, and Carbapenem)[6]
TREATMENT
- Allopathic
- Intravenous antibiotics
- N-acetyl cysteine[7]
- Herbal
Unfortunately, there is no mention of the method of preparation or dosage for any of these items.
Patients with sepsis are often dehydrated as well. The best solution for this is intravenous fluids.[17] If this is not possible, administer fluids orally (small but frequent), rectally, or subcutaneously.[18]
Links to related posts:
Ceftriaxone—For the Eyes of Serious Preppers Only
Bacterial Meningitis: Identification, Treatment, and Prevention
Enema Bags for Rehydration and Warming
Hypodermoclysis for Administering Fluids to Dehydrated Patients
The Medicinal Uses of Echinacea
The Medicinal Uses of Licorice
The Medicinal Uses of N-Acetyl Cysteine
[1] https://www.verywellhealth.com/sepsis-and-septicemia-2615130
[2] https://www.verywellhealth.com/sepsis-and-septicemia-2615130
[3] Joseph Alton, Survival Medicine Handbook, 3rd Edition, 2013, 191.
[4] Joseph Alton, Survival Medicine Handbook, 3rd Edition, 2013, 131.
[5] https://www.verywellhealth.com/sepsis-and-septicemia-2615130
[6] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7909479/
[7] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK537183/
[8] Stephen Harrod Buhner, Herbal Antibiotics, 2012, 45.
[9] S Yang, et al., Glycine attenuates hepatocellular depression during early sepsis and reduces sepsis-induced mortality, Critical Care Medicine, June 2001, Vol 29 No 6, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11395604/ (accessed 14 March 2023).
[10] Stephen Harrod Buhner, Herbal Antivirals, 2013, 37.
[11] Stephen Harrod Buhner, Herbal Antivirals, 2013, 37.
[12] Stephen Harrod Buhner, Herbal Antivirals, 2013, 37.
[13] Stephen Harrod Buhner, Herbal Antivirals, 2013, 37.
[14] Stephen Harrod Buhner, Herbal Antivirals, 2013, 37.
[15] Stephen Harrod Buhner, Herbal Antivirals, 2013, 37.
[16] Stephen Harrod Buhner, Herbal Antivirals, 2013, 37.
[17] https://www.verywellhealth.com/sepsis-and-septicemia-2615130
[18] Survival and Austere Medicine, 3rd Edition, 2017, 110.
Unfortunately, if you had sepsis in the past you are MUCH more likely to have it happen again. DNA studies suggest that roughly half are exactly the same bacteria that you had before and the other half is something new.
ReplyDeleteIn my brother's case, his doctor traced the cause to his inability to provide adequate hygiene to his feet due to extreme obesity. His skin cracked (Athlete's foot?) and that was the presumed point-of-entry.
Washing, drying, loose or open footwear while inside, daily visual/tactile inspection and maybe appropriate lotions for cracking might have prevented the issue.
Prevention is the best for most situations. ERJ speaks to the most common sepsis we get at our hospital. They wait until it's a mess before coming in.
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