Cavan General Hospital recognises World Sepsis Day

Cavan General Hospital joined global efforts in recognising World Sepsis Day last week, an annual event held on September 13 to raise awareness around the dangers of sepsis, a life-threatening condition resulting from extreme response to infection.

By taking part, the team at Cavan General highlighted among its staff the importance of early detection, swift treatment, and also educated the wider public on this often-misunderstood but potentially lethal condition.

Throughout last Wednesday, the local hospital hosted a series of information sessions.

Targeting both healthcare professionals and visitors to the facility, the hospital emphasised the crucial actions needed within one hour of recognising sepsis, which can significantly help improve a person's survival rate.

Caroline Keyes, Director of Nursing at CGH, says that the nursing team took a “multi-disciplinary team approach” this year.

“We have a really good sepsis committee in the hospital, chaired by [Professor Ashraf] Butt, and there is a lot of multi-disciplinary team input into that, which oversees our management of sepsis and our [key performance indicators] within that.”

Prof Butt says that to identify sepsis early “saves lives”.

There are four steps in the management of patients with sepsis; detection, communication, recognition (and diagnosis), and treatment. This includes administering oxygen, taking blood cultures, and giving antibiotics, among other key interventions.

“That's the message to all the medical and nursing staff, and to the community as well. We are telling the community that, if they think someone is unwell, and very unwell, they have to consider sepsis.”

As part of marking World Sepsis Day at the hospital educational materials were also distributed to increase awareness of symptoms, such as fever, confusion, extreme pain, and rapid breathing, ensuring that both staff and the public could recognise these warning signs quickly.

The hospital also highlighted the work done by their Sepsis Management Team.

Prof Butt highlights, however, that not every infection can lead to sepsis. “That's why its important to get help from the GP, if they have infection make sure you get appropriate treatment.”

Petrina Donnelly, Director of Nursing and Midwifery RCSI Hospital Group, says only through ongoing training and education can medical and nursing staff and the public at large become better equipped at identifying and managing sepsis in its early stages, reducing the risk of complications or fatalities.

“Right across the region, and nationally, it's not just about today but everyday. Sepsis awareness is critical. Walking around some of the wards here today and seeing the initiatives being taken at local level, which has a multi-disciplinary impact, whether medical, nursing, allied health professionals. I think together, if we all understand and better recognise the symptoms of sepsis - what it is, what it's not and ultimately how to treat it - we become a safer place.”