What is hospital-acquired sepsis? | How it is caused and when it may be classed as negligence

Hospital-acquired sepsis is a form of septic infection that develops when a patient is in hospital, often developed if an infection wasn’t treated quickly enough or signs of infection were ignored or missed - leading to sepsis. Hospital-acquired sepsis is typically diagnosed when a patient enters the hospital for another reason, for example, to undergo surgery, but develops an infection that causes sepsis during their hospital stay. If sepsis is not treated early, it can turn into septic shock and cause your organs to fail. This can often have life-threatening consequences.

It can sometimes be difficult to spot hospital-acquired sepsis if you’re not sure what symptoms to look out for and how it can occur. Here, we explore the causes of hospital-acquired sepsis, when sepsis may have been caused by negligence and the symptoms to look out for.

Causes of hospital-acquired sepsis

Sepsis, also known as septicaemia, occurs when an acquired infection causes a chain reaction throughout the body. This is usually when a bacterial infection - in the skin or lungs, for example - enters the bloodstream, at which point toxins are carried throughout the entire body. There are several different ways sepsis can develop in hospitals. Here are some examples:

• The failure to diagnose and treat an infection quickly enough - such as a wound infection, can result in a deterioration into sepsis.
• When a patient has undergone an operation, and harmful bacteria has entered the bloodstream during surgery. This is known as postoperative sepsis.
• When a patient reacts severely to a bacterial infection.
• If a patient suffering from an infection has not been provided with a sufficient course of antibiotic medication, this can sometimes lead to the development of sepsis.

Who is more likely to suffer from hospital-acquired sepsis?

People who have recently undergone surgery or women who have just given birth in hospital are particularly at risk of developing an infection that could result in sepsis. Certain illnesses, like urinary tract infections and pneumonia, can put a patient at a heightened risk of sepsis, as bacteria can pass more easily into the bloodstream in these instances. Sometimes, a treatment that impairs or weakens the immune system, such as chemotherapy, can be a risk factor for acquiring an infection that may lead to sepsis.

In terms of age, those most at risk of developing hospital-acquired sepsis resulting from an infection are the very young (infants) and very old. People with serious or chronic illnesses, such as cancer or diabetes, are also at elevated risk - as are those with compromised or impaired immune systems, such as HIV-positive patients.

Patients who have already developed a hospital-acquired infection, or have been admitted to hospital with an existing infection are at risk of sepsis and should be monitored closely by staff and treated quickly. This is particularly true in people who already have chronic illnesses such as diabetes, and those who are immunocompromised.

Do you think your loved one has sepsis? Symptoms to look out for

If you are concerned that a loved one may have acquired sepsis in hospital, you should be on the lookout for the following symptoms:

• Elevated heart rate
• Fever and shivering
• Confusion
• Hypotension (low blood pressure)
• Sweating
• Shortness of breath
• Extreme discomfort

Find out more about the symptoms of sepsis here.

When is sepsis caused by hospital negligence?

If you or a loved one contracts sepsis in a medical environment, the sepsis could potentially have been caused by hospital negligence.

In many negligence cases, hospital staff don’t notice or don’t react quickly enough to visible signs of an infection, leading to sepsis. Negligence may also be to blame if symptoms of an infection are misdiagnosed, and the patient then develops sepsis. A hospital may also fail to adequately treat an infection quickly enough or appropriately - for example, not providing antibiotics quickly enough, leading it to deteriorate and cause sepsis.

Other negligence cases can involve the misdiagnosis of sepsis itself, as sepsis can often be overlooked and confused with other conditions, such as flu. This can mean that patients are not assessed and treated for sepsis when it’s still in the early stages.

Find out whether you may be able to make a claim in our guide Can you make a medical negligence claim for sepsis?

How should hospital staff monitor patients who are at risk of sepsis?

Staff should monitor patients who are particularly at risk of developing sepsis by regularly checking for signs of infection. If symptoms of an infection are recognised – such as a high temperature or generally feeling unwell or feverish, staff should look for the source of the infection in an attempt drain the infection and prevent sepsis. Open wounds should be monitored – and staff should look for fluid discharge and swollen and sore skin. Broad-based antibiotics should also be looked at immediately if a patient shows signs of an infection.

Hospital staff use the SIRS test (Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome) to determine whether patients have sepsis. A patient with sepsis will meet at least two of the following criteria: a temperature of over 38 degrees (or under 36); a heart rate of over 90bpm; breathing rate of 20 or under per minute; and a white cell count of over 12 (taken from a standard blood test). The source of sepsis should be looked for, and if the patient has had surgery, the site of surgery will be the first to be looked at – usually using a CT scan.

Treatment for sepsis will typically include aggressive fluid resuscitation, early, broad-spectrum antibiotics, intensive care unit consultation, central venous pressure evaluation, and occasionally pressors and transfusion. Doctors will also attempt to identify the source of any infection and draining the infected site if necessary.

Can I get compensation for sepsis?

If an investigation has proven that hospital negligence resulted in sepsis, a law firm like Wake Smith can help you to receive compensation. There are several criteria considered when making a claim for sepsis compensation, including:

• The severity of symptoms (for example, whether sepsis caused long-lasting problems like organ dysfunction or organ failure).
• If sepsis led to hospital mortality.
• If severe sepsis infection meant that the patient required treatment in an intensive care unit.
• Physical and emotional trauma caused by the ordeal.
• Time taken off work to recover.
• Any associated medical or travel costs.

How do I make a hospital negligence claim?

The first step to making a hospital negligence claim is to contact a law firm that specialises in medical negligence claims. From here, you’ll be able to discuss your case and provide your solicitor with information that allows them to gather evidence that supports your claim.

If the evidence is substantial enough, your solicitor will then be able to take the case to court on your behalf. You won’t necessarily have to attend proceedings, and in some sepsis cases, the hospital may be willing to settle the case out-of-court.

Read our full guide to making a negligence claim for sepsis here.

How Wake Smith can help

Wake Smith has a dedicated team of medical negligence solicitors who can offer advice and represent you on matters pertaining to medical negligence. If court proceedings are necessary, the experienced Wake Smith team will be able to present your case at every level, including the Court of Appeal, Supreme Court and European Court of Justice.

To contact Wake Smith today, simply call 0114 266 6660 or use the online contact form to request a callback.

Frequently asked questions

Why is sepsis so common in hospitals?

Hospitals typically hold a large number of patients who have recently undergone surgery or have just given birth and are therefore at a high risk of developing sepsis. Healthcare environments also generally house other sick people, some of whom may have infections that can spread, causing sepsis to develop in some individuals. You are also exposed to more people than you would be at home (visitors, workers, physicians), and these people could unwittingly transfer pathogens from one person to another.

Can the patient or family members sue the hospital?

If sepsis has been caused due to medical negligence, patients and/or their family members can take a case against the hospital they were treated in. To do so, it is advisable to contact a law firm with experience in medical negligence cases.

What are the first steps in recovery?

In order to recover from sepsis, a patient should be prescribed a course of powerful antibiotics. In addition to this, they should have plenty of rest to build up their strength while eating a balanced and healthy diet.

What types of infections are HAIs?

Healthcare-associated infections, or HAIs, include catheter-associated urinary tract infections, ventilator-associated pneumonia, postoperative surgical site infections and central line bloodstream infections.

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