Septicemia in Challenging Circumstances

Over the past several years, septicemia has been mentioned a few times on the blog, but until now it hasn’t had its own article.  It’s been feeling a little neglected.

Perhaps because my thinking was something along the lines of “Septicemia—blood poisoning—treat with antibiotic—move on to next problem.”  Of course, there’s a whole lot more to it than that. 

The terms septicemia and sepsis are often used interchangeably, but in reality they shouldn’t be.  (It should be noted that bacteremia is now the preferred term for septicemia, but it appears that septicemia is still more commonly used, so that’s what I’m going with.)  According to the Cleveland Clinic, a septicemia infection occurs when pathogens—usually bacteria, but sometimes viruses and fungi—penetrate into the bloodstream and spread throughout the body.  This may progress into sepsis, the body’s vigorous reaction to the infection, which may cause tissue damage, organ failure, and death.[1] Sepsis will be addressed in a future article.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

Initial signs and symptoms of septicemia include:

• High fever
• Chills
• Weakness
• Sweating
• Drop in blood pressure[2]

Septicemia is a medical emergency and qualified care should be sought immediately if the patient exhibits the above signs and symptoms.

Diagnosis is based on the presence of septicemia symptoms as well as blood tests to identify the responsible pathogen.  Those blood tests may not be available if the medical system has collapsed.  Doctors will be making their best guesses.  Tests for damage to tissues and organs may help.

In newborns, the signs of septicemia differ significantly.  The infection most often occurs through the baby’s skin or umbilical cord at birth, and the symptoms most often develop after the second day of life.  Signs include:

• Not sucking well
• Seems very sleepy
• Very pale or turning blue
• Vomiting or diarrhea
• Fever or low temperature
• Swollen belly
• Jaundice
• Convulsions[3]

Of course, all of these signs may stem from something besides septicemia.  However, if the baby exhibits several of these signs simultaneously, septicemia is the likely cause.

RISK FACTORS

While anyone can get septicemia, this disease is more common in those who:

• Are hospitalized or have recently had surgery, especially those with catheters or IVs.
• Are very young or very old.
• Have a previous history of septicemia.
• Have infections or chronic medical conditions like diabetes or cancer.
• Have severe injuries such as extensive burn or open wounds.
• Have a weak immune system.[4]

Most any pathogen can cause septicemia.  The ones most frequently responsible include:

• Escherichia coli
• Staphylococcus aureus
• Streptococcus pneumoniae[5]

The pathogens enter the bloodstream in any number of ways, such as:

• Abscessed tooth[6]
• Arthritis, bacterial[7]
• Contaminated medical equipment like surgical instruments and needles[8]
• Fracture, open or compound[9]
• Ingrown toenail[10]
• Kidney infection[11] [12]
• Pneumonia[13]
• Skin burns and wounds[14], including a dirty wound that gets closed and traps bacteria[15]
• Urinary tract infection[16]

TREATMENT

Septicemia is a medical emergency and treatment must begin immediately to avoid the development of sepsis.  In addition to the following antibiotics, your physician may recommend draining blood and fluid from the affected area.[17]  According to the Cleveland Clinic, it may be weeks or months before the patient feels better.

Infants

• Ampicillin, 125 mg, 3 times per day
• Or crystalline penicillin, 150 mg, 3 times per day
• Also, if possible, administer kanamycin, 25 mg, 2 times per day OR streptomycin, 20 mg, 1 time per day.[18]
• No period is suggested for how long the antibiotics should be administered.  The general rule of thumb in such cases is to continue the antibiotic until the symptoms resolve, plus two more days.

Older patients

• Allopathic regimens (these assume that the responsible pathogen is bacterial)
• Clindamycin
• IV medication is more effective[19]
• If unavailable, 300-450 mg orally every 6 hours[20]
• Metronidazole
• 7.5mg/kg every 6 hours for 7-10 days, do not exceed 4 g per day, if the bacteria causing the infection are Bacteroides[21]
• Herbal
• Blackberry leaf poultice, for skin burns and wounds
• Prepare the leaf as a decoction and apply the poultice to the affected area, changing several times per day.[22]
• Echinacea angustifolia tincture
• 1 teaspoon every 30 minutes, held in mouth for 1 minute before swallowing.  Take 30 minutes after taking piperine to get it into the bloodstream even more quickly.[23]

PREVENTION

Reduce the risk of developing septicemia by maintaining good health, washing hands well, and keeping wounds clean and covered.  Note that while septicemia is not contagious, washing hands well prevents the spread of pathogens that may cause septicemia.

Links to related posts:

The Medicinal Uses of Blackberry  

The Medicinal Uses of Echinacea 

[1] https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21539-septicemia

[2] https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21539-septicemia

[3] David Werner, Where There Is No Doctor, 1992, 275.

[4] https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21539-septicemia

[5] https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21539-septicemia

[6] https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21539-septicemia

[7] Joseph Alton, Survival Medicine Handbook, 4^th Edition, 2021, 358.

[8] https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21539-septicemia

[9] Joseph Alton, Survival Medicine Handbook, 4^th Edition, 2021, 335.

[10] Joseph Alton, Survival Medicine Handbook, 4^th Edition, 2021, 384.

[11] https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21539-septicemia

[12] Joseph Alton, Survival Medicine Handbook, 4^th Edition, 2021, 305.

[13] https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21539-septicemia

[14] https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21539-septicemia

[15] Joseph Alton, Survival Medicine Handbook, 4^th Edition, 2021, 508.

[16] https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21539-septicemia

[17] https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21539-septicemia

[18] David Werner, Where There Is No Doctor, 1992, 275.

[19] Joseph Alton, Alton’s Antibiotics, 2018, 169; Joseph Alton, Survival Medicine Handbook, 4^th Edition, 2021, 636.

[20] Joseph Alton, Alton’s Antibiotics, 2018, 169; Joseph Alton, Survival Medicine Handbook, 4^th Edition, 2021, 636.

[21] Joseph Alton, Alton’s Antibiotics, 2018, 175.

[22] Stephen Harrod Buhner, Herbal Antibiotics, 2012.

[23] Stephen Harrod Buhner, Herbal Antibiotics, 2012, 271.