Cleveland Clinic physician stresses that infection prevention is particularly important in vulnerable groups such as the elderly, pregnant women and patients with chronic conditions, among others
CLEVELAND: Vaccinations against infections are an important component in reducing the risk of developing sepsis, a serious and potentially life-threatening condition, says an expert from global health system Cleveland Clinic ahead of World Immunization Week, which is marked by the World Health Organization at the end of April each year.
“A healthy, active immune system works to fight off an infection, but if the immune system cannot do this successfully, the infection can progress to a more advanced stage known as sepsis,” explains Chirag Choudhary, MD, MBA, a pulmonary and critical care specialist at Cleveland Clinic. “While anyone can develop sepsis, individuals with weakened immune systems are more at risk and infection prevention through vaccination is particularly important for them.”
Dr. Choudhary explains that sepsis is the result of widespread swelling or inflammation and low blood pressure that are part of the body’s response to infection, precipitating an inflammatory response. Chemicals released due to the inflammatory response can cause a drop in blood pressure and abnormal clotting, resulting in organ failure and even death.
He adds that the populations more vulnerable to sepsis include people over the age of 65 or the very young; pregnant women; people with pre-existing infections or medical conditions such as diabetes and cancer; patients who are hospitalized; and people being treated for large wounds or burns, or using a catheter or breathing tube.
“Infections in older patients can develop and progress rapidly as their immune system functioning declines and certain physiologic reflexes and defenses also deteriorate with age. However, at any age, chronic conditions can increase the likelihood of infections, for example, cancer patients on chemotherapy have periods where their immune function is very low, wounds in a person with diabetes might not heal effectively, and a person with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease cannot clear their lungs properly, which enables bacteria to settle more easily and cause infections,” Dr. Choudhary says.
While the World Health Organization acknowledges it is difficult to ascertain the precise global impact of sepsis, it cites a scientific publication that estimates that in 2017 there were 48.9 million cases and 11 million sepsis-related deaths worldwide, which accounted for almost 20% of all global deaths.
Dr. Choudhary suggests that patients speak to their healthcare providers about which vaccinations they should have, which will be determined by their age, risk factors, previous vaccinations received and medical history. For adults, these recommendations could include flu, pneumococcal, COVID-19, HPV, shingles or Tdap (tetanus toxoid, reduced diphtheria toxoid and acellular pertussis) vaccinations and/or booster shots.
“In addition to vaccinations, people should protect themselves from infections by cleaning wounds and scratches thoroughly, washing their hands frequently, bathing regularly and, if they have diabetes, monitoring their blood glucose levels carefully,” says Dr. Choudhary.
Dr. Choudhary says that sepsis can be treated with fluids and antibiotics if it is caught in its early stages. “If you suspect that you or someone else has sepsis, it is important to treat it as an emergency and get medical help immediately,” he stresses.
“While the symptoms vary from person to person, the signs to watch out for are a fever that is accompanied by the following symptoms: confusion or dizziness; a faster rate of breathing or new or worsening shortness of breath; a reduction in urine amount or dark colored urine; a rapid heart rate and a drop in blood pressure,” he says.
About Cleveland Clinic
Cleveland Clinic is a nonprofit multispecialty academic medical center that integrates clinical and hospital care with research and education. Located in Cleveland, Ohio, it was founded in 1921 by four renowned physicians with a vision of providing outstanding patient care based upon the principles of cooperation, compassion and innovation. Cleveland Clinic has pioneered many medical breakthroughs, including coronary artery bypass surgery and the first face transplant in the United States. U.S. News & World Report consistently names Cleveland Clinic as one of the nation’s best hospitals in its annual “America’s Best Hospitals” survey. Among Cleveland Clinic’s 72,500 employees worldwide are more than 5,050 salaried physicians and researchers, and 17,800 registered nurses and advanced practice providers, representing 140 medical specialties and subspecialties. Cleveland Clinic is a 6,500-bed health system that includes a 173-acre main campus near downtown Cleveland, 22 hospitals, more than 220 outpatient facilities, including locations in northeast Ohio; southeast Florida; Las Vegas, Nevada; Toronto, Canada; Abu Dhabi, UAE; and London, England. In 2021, there were 10.2 million total outpatient visits, 304,000 hospital admissions and observations, and 259,000 surgical cases throughout Cleveland Clinic’s health system. Patients came for treatment from every state and 185 countries.
