Sepsis is a life-threatening response to infection that can lead to extremely low blood pressure, which limits oxygen to the body’s organs. The condition is treated in a hospital, where fluids and medications to raise blood pressure are given.
Avoiding sepsis requires proactive measures that go well beyond cleaning and disinfecting your home. These include:
Pumping
In septic shock, blood flow to the brain and heart is reduced. The kidneys may also not work properly to remove waste from the body. To help increase blood flow and keep the organs working, doctors give patients fluids through a vein. These are usually intravenous (IV) fluids, but they may also use a vein in the neck or arm. They also may give medications that cause the blood vessels to narrow (vasopressin or norepinephrine) to improve blood flow.
People with severe sepsis and septic shock need to be treated in a hospital. A team of nurses, doctors, and other healthcare professionals watches over the patient 24 hours daily. This can be stressful, and patients may experience agitation, confusion, or even hallucinations. The health care team uses blood tests to check the amount of bacteria in the blood and a chest X-ray or other imaging test to look for the source of the infection in the lungs or abdomen.
Doctors treat a person with sepsis or septic shock immediately with antibiotics and fluids through a vein (intravenous). They start with broad-spectrum antibiotics, which work against several different types of bacteria. Some experts recommend using a combination of drugs to treat the most common infections caused by bacteria commonly found in people who develop sepsis or septic shock.
Many people with septic shock die from the disease. The risk of death varies depending on how quickly the illness is treated, what type of bacteria are involved, and a person’s underlying health problems.
Researchers have found that patients with septic shock who are treated within three hours of their symptoms have a better chance of survival than those who receive treatment later. A study showed that the most important factor in a person’s chances of survival is whether or not the three-hour bundle of actions (blood cultures before starting antibiotics, fluid resuscitation, and monitoring for serum lactate levels) is completed in a timely fashion.
Inspections
There is a reason that “they” say, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Whether it’s a visit to the doctor for a checkup or taking your car in for routine maintenance, preventing something from going wrong can save you time and money. Likewise, with septic systems, a little preventative care can help keep your system in tip-top shape and avoid costly problems down the road.
Septic shock is a severe and life-threatening condition that happens when an infection triggers an immune response, leading to tissue damage and organ failure. It typically stems from a bacterial infection but can also be caused by fungal or viral infections.
People with septic shock have a dynamic precordium with tachycardia and bounding peripheral pulses. Their blood pressure is often low and may remain low even after fluid resuscitation. They also have high levels of lactate in their blood.
The Third International Consensus Definitions for Sepsis and Septic Shock defines sepsis as a body’s dysregulated response to an infection, with multiple organ dysfunction. To be diagnosed with septic shock, a client must have two or more of these signs:
A person with septic shock has a deficient fluid volume (hypovolemia) because of loss from fever and diaphoresis, as well as an increase in cardiac output that causes a reduction in preload due to vasoconstriction.
Initially, fluids are given intravenously to restore circulating volume and maintain adequate blood pressure. This is done judiciously to avoid fluid overload. They are typically administered using a fluid infusion pump, guided by hemodynamic monitoring, including central venous pressure and cardiac output measurements. If the patient is still hypodynamic, vasopressors are used to maintain normal blood pressure and prevent shock.
Water Conservation
As a homeowner, you have the power to prevent septic shock by taking small steps to save water. This is particularly important if you own a septic system, which works continuously to treat your household waste and sewage. By reducing your consumption of water, you can lengthen the life of your septic system and prevent costly repairs in the future.
Most people don’t think of their septic systems as appliances but as constant workhorses. Every time you flush the toilet or run your dishwasher, gallons of water are sent through your home to the septic tank and drain field. The treats this wastewater, separating solids from the sludge layer and fats, oils, and grease in the scum layer.
The drain field then absorbs the sewage and wastewater, and the soil in the area acts as a natural filtration system to remove toxic chemicals and bacteria from the water that leaves the septic tank. This helps protect local drinking water sources and prevents pollution of lakes, rivers, and shorelines that residents use for swimming, fishing, and recreational activities.
It’s easy to take your septic system for granted because it’s buried underground and out of sight. But it’s always working for you. By preventing problems, you can prolong the life of your septic system and keep it running smoothly.
A septic shock can be deadly because it leads to low blood pressure, which deprives your organs of blood and nutrients. You can reduce your risk of sepsis by getting regular vaccinations for viral infections, practicing good hygiene, and washing your hands thoroughly.
After a natural disaster, infectious diseases spread quickly among survivors. Infected wounds, contaminated flood waters, and overcrowded shelters can cause infections that lead to sepsis. Septic shock can also develop as a complication of sepsis.
It is critical to get immediate medical care if you suspect sepsis or septic shock. If not treated promptly, it can kill you or lead to life-altering complications, such as chronic pain and incorrectly functioning organs.
Drain Field Maintenance
The drain field is an important component of your septic system. When it is functioning properly, it allows sewage effluent to infiltrate the soil and be naturally absorbed and treated. If this is not occurring, it may result in septic tank failure or sewage leaking into groundwater or into your neighbors’ wells. The drain field must be designed and installed for the soil conditions of your property. You should never plant trees, shrubs, or vegetable gardens over your septic drain field because the roots could clog and damage the pipes or even enter the septic tank itself. In order to maintain proper function, inspect the drain field on a regular basis. Look for a well-defined drainage pattern and soil color changes to ensure infiltration is taking place. In addition, you should not drive or park vehicles over the drain field because heavy equipment can crush the septic system’s pipes. You should also keep large grass or a deep garden away from the drain field as these plants and flowers can grow roots that ensnarl the sewage drainpipes. Inspection access risers should be placed in the drain field area to make it easier for you and your septic tank service provider to check or pump the system.
As a homeowner, you can avoid septic shock by following the simple steps outlined above. Your septic system is not a trash can; only human poop and pee should be flushed, along with toilet paper. Don’t pour household chemicals down the drains, such as detergents, cleaning products and paints. These toxic products deplete the septic tank’s bacteria and promote excessive Biomat formation that eventually moves into the drain field.
If you notice that your septic tank and drain field are over-saturated, it is important to consult with your septic system professional to discuss treatment options. There are specific septic tank treatment products on the market designed for this purpose that can help speed up the digestion of organic waste and break down the Biomat to allow it to flow into the drain field more quickly. Septic Liberator, for example, is a safe and effective product that can be poured directly into the septic tank through the cleanout port or into the toilet connected to the septic system.