The best way to prevent sepsis is to prevent infection. This is especially important for individuals with risk factors for sepsis. Ways to prevent sepsis in the community include:
Vaccination of high-risk populations (i.e. vaccinating the elderly against pneumococcal pneumonia, vaccinating young adults for meningococcal infections) such as:
- Advanced stage cancer patients
- Patients with type I diabetes
- Individuals with end-stage renal disease
- Patients with congestive heart failure
- Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- Practice good hygiene
- Maintain mobility to reduce frailty
- Maintain a nutritional diet
- Treat wound infections
Sepsis and septic shock are more common in hospital settings due to the plethora of pathogens in this environment. Thus, sepsis can be more difficult to treat in clinics. Preventative measures that can be taken in the hospital include reducing exposure to this environment. These measures include:
- Reducing length of patient stay
- Reducing frequency of invasive procedures
- Reducing frequency of duration of invasive procedures
- Washing hands
- Using antibacterial devices
- Changing catheters often
- Constant monitoring of the patient’s status
- Immediate treatment of any signs of sepsis
Financial burden can also be a deterrent to practices that spread sepsis since sepsis is the most expensive disease to treat in hospitals in the United States. Hospitals that fail to identify and immediately treat sepsis also receive substantial fines. Thus, hospitals utilize monitoring systems to help identify early signs such as urine output, body temperature, mental function, and blood flow.
