Could this be sepsis?

80% of sepsis cases originate outside the hospital, so early recognition in community settings is vital.

Sepsis can present with vague, non-specific symptoms initially, followed by rapid decompensation. These features make sepsis difficult to recognise and manage in primary care.

Learning objectives for this short course are to:

• Recognise sepsis as a common medical emergency, including subtle community presentations.
• Understand risk stratification and how it guides management and use of critical language.
• Understand how to talk to patients, whānau and caregivers about sepsis.
• Appreciate haemodynamics in children (vital signs and examination), and how they relate to sepsis progression.
• Understand inequities in sepsis prevalence, including which children are particularly at risk of sepsis.
• Identify common post-sepsis symptoms (sometimes referred to as the post-sepsis syndrome).
• Assumed knowledge: history taking and physical exam regarding finding the source of infection.

Acknowledgements

Content created by Dr Sylvia Giles with expert review by Paul Huggan, Acute Medicine and Infectious Disease Physician.