Albrandswaards Dagblad | Medics and former patients are raising the alarm about sepsis

Corona patients who become seriously ill after an infection also appear to have sepsis regularly. But another infection with a virus, a bacteria, a fungus or another germ can also cause sepsis. Sepsis is the leading cause of death in ICU wards, but the condition is known to only one in three Dutch people. That is why sepsis experts from various hospitals have set up the SepsisNet Netherlands Foundation together with former patients on behalf of the Ministry of Health.

Sepsis is popularly known as blood poisoning. It is a seriously disrupted immune response of the body to a pathogen such as a virus or bacteria. This reaction reduces the function of the organs. In the Netherlands, approximately 35,000 patients contract sepsis every year. About ten thousand patients end up in intensive care. Those who heal keep physical and mental complaints for a long time, from which some of the patients still die, says intensivist Peter Pickkers of the Radboudumc in Nijmegen, chairman of SepsisNet Netherlands. For example, shortness of breath and concentration problems are common, while the chance of a new infection is also much greater.

According to Pickkers, many patients fail to recognize the symptoms of sepsis, and prompt treatment is essential. SepsisNet Nederland wants to do something about this. “The condition causes more deaths per year than breast cancer, prostate cancer and traffic accidents combined. Anyone with an infection should therefore be aware of accelerated breathing or heartbeat, abnormal temperature, confusion or drowsiness together with a severe feeling of flu.” Babies and young children, the elderly and people with chronic diseases or a reduced immune system are most at risk.

The Radboudumc, UMC Groningen, UMC Utrecht and the Gelderse Vallei hospital are collaborating on SepsisNet Nederland. More information can be found on the sepsisnet.nl website from Friday. Sunday is World Sepsis Day.

By: ANP | Photo: ANP

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