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Liz Unruh (Host): Hello, listeners, and thanks for tuning in to the Well Within Reach podcast, brought to you by Riverside Healthcare. I'm your host, Liz Unruh. And joining me today is Melinda Mattox from our Riverside Quality Improvement team. Thanks for joining us today.

Melinda Mattox: Hello. It's good to be here.

Host: Yeah. And we're going to be talking a little bit about sepsis awareness and what sepsis is. But before we get into that, can you tell us a little bit about yourself and your role here at Riverside?

Melinda Mattox: Well, I work in the Quality Improvement Department, and I am the Sepsis Coordinator here at Riverside.

Host: Okay.

Melinda Mattox: I'm a nurse.

Host: Oh, yeah. By background, you're a nurse?

Melinda Mattox: Yes.

Host: Yeah, which makes you a great person to talk about this topic. I'm sure you have some experience. But let's start with the basics. Many people hear the word sepsis, but they might just think that it's a scary word, it can be. But can you explain what sepsis is and why it's considered a medical emergency?

Melinda Mattox: Yes. Sepsis is the body's overwhelming life-threatening response to an infection. Instead of fighting that infection normally, the immune system, it can become dysregulated and begin damaging its own tissues and organs. If that's not recognized and treated quickly, sepsis can lead to organ failure, septic shock, and even death, unfortunately. That's why sepsis is considered a true medical emergency.

Host: Yeah. So, I know that I hear sepsis, and you hear it in the TV shows, and they're like, "Oh, this person's going into sepsis." So, it's good to understand what that means and why it's so, important and why you need to react quickly. So, each September, we recognize the month as Sepsis Awareness Month. Why is it important to bring attention to sepsis, and what do you wish more people knew about it?

Melinda Mattox: Sepsis Awareness Month is important because sepsis remains one of the leading causes of hospitalization and death, yet many people still don't recognize even the warning signs. One thing I wish everyone understood is that sepsis can happen to anyone and can develop from infections people often consider routine or even minor. Rapid treatment saves lives though. So, the sooner someone seeks care, the better their chances of recovery. And that's what we're wanting, is recovery.

Host: That's surprising to me that sepsis can develop from those common infections like pneumonia, a urinary tract infection, or even some type of cut. So like, why would an everyday infection become something so serious?

Melinda Mattox: Yes. Well, any infection has the potential to trigger sepsis. So when bacteria or viruses or even fungi enter the body, the immune system normally works to eliminate them, and that works really good most of the time. Sometimes, however, the body's response becomes excessive, and this can cause inflammation throughout the whole body. As organs begin to malfunction, the condition can rapidly become life-threatening as we talked about. That's why it's so important to treat infections promptly and to monitor for signs that someone is getting worse instead of getting better like we want.

Host: Yeah. As a kid we're always told, you know, "You get a cut, go wash it." It's something that can be as simple as that. Make sure you're cleaning your wounds, and if you notice something that's wrong, say something to your providers. Get wound care if it seems to be progressing, because they could definitely help prevent sepsis from happening in your body. I'm sure there's a lot of misconceptions about sepsis. What are some of the biggest myths you hear, and what would you like people to know instead?

Melinda Mattox: Yeah. Well, one common myth is that sepsis only happens in hospitals. And in reality, many cases begin just in the community before the patient even reaches a hospital. Another misconception is that sepsis only affects the older adult population. And while certain groups are at higher risk, it can occur at any age, not just when you're older and wiser.

Host: Yeah. I think that's an important thing to remember is that it can impact everybody no matter your age. We're going to take a quick break to hear about primary care at Riverside.

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And we're back. So, you mentioned this before, there are warning signs for sepsis. When should someone stop waiting to see if they'll feel better and seek medical care?

Melinda Mattox: People should seek medical attention immediately if they have an infection and begin experiencing symptoms such as confusion or a sudden change in mental status. They may get short of breath or have rapid breathing. Some people get chills or fever, or they go the opposite and get really cold; a rapid heart rate, sometimes severe pain or extreme discomfort. And in children, this can be really bad leg pain sometimes. Clammy or sweaty skin. They may feel much worse than expected from what they would consider just a routine illness. So, they're kind of surprised that they feel so bad. The main takeaway here is that's when you need to seek emergency medical care right away.

Host: Yeah. So if you have a cut or maybe you previously or recently had an infection and you start feeling those symptoms, that's when you need to get in and get checked out right away.

Melinda Mattox: Yes.

Host: Yeah. So, who would be most at risk for developing sepsis? We said this could happen to anybody, but are there certain groups that should be especially aware?

Melinda Mattox: And you're right, sepsis can happen to anyone, but there are some groups that face a higher risk, and those groups might include, as we get older and wiser, 65 and over, infants and young children of course, and then people with weakened immune systems. And then, also those individuals with maybe some chronic illnesses such as diabetes or cancer or kidney disease, or maybe even some lung diseases. People also that have maybe just had a recent surgery or have just gotten out of the hospital or have had a recent hospitalization, they are at higher risk. And of course, if you have wounds, especially chronic wounds, or burns or invasive medical devices, maybe you have a catheter.

Host: Okay. Yeah, those definitely are things to keep in mind if you fall into one of those groups to be aware that this could be something that happens to you. So when you do go into the hospital or get a cut, just to be aware and be watching for it.

You mentioned that every minute counts, and that speed and rapid treatment is important when it comes to sepsis. Why is that early recognition and treatment so critical, and how can it impact the patient's outcome?

Melinda Mattox: So, just as we think about getting to the emergency room very quickly if you're having a stroke or a heart attack, sepsis is just as important. And the earlier the treatment, the better the outcome for the patients. And it can help you to prevent into going to septic shock. And that's our goal, is to treat it early so that we decrease that death risk and treat that infection.

Host: Yeah, we definitely don't want to get to the point where we're looking at death being a possible outcome. So coming in, getting treated early is great. If a patient was to come into the Riverside Emergency Room with suspected sepsis, what would happen? Does the quality team help? Is there a team in the ER that helps deliver the care to help improve the outcome?

Melinda Mattox: Absolutely. Well, the quality team is integral. And in my role, I try to look at sepsis patients as they're coming in and making sure that we're meeting all of our goals for care. But we also have tremendous skilled physicians in the emergency room that are there to take care of you immediately, and nurses that will meet you at the door and get you in the right place and get that medication to you as quickly as possible so that we have the best outcomes and you have the best opportunity for healing.

Host: Yeah. I think the best thing is, if you think you have sepsis, get there fast. Make sure that you're paying attention to wounds and cuts so that you don't get to the point of needing the emergency care. Like, perhaps you can get it taken care of with your primary care or wound care.

But as we wrap up here, what's one message you hope our listeners remember about sepsis, and what should they do if they suspect they or a loved one might have sepsis?

Melinda Mattox: If there's one thing that I would want listeners to remember today, let it be this: that sepsis is a medical emergency. Know the signs, trust your instincts, and seek medical care early. Early recognition and treatment, that saves lives.

Host: Yes, it does.

Melinda Mattox: Maybe yours.

Host: Yes, for sure. Well, thank you so much for joining us today.

Melinda Mattox: Thank you for having me.

Host: Yeah. And thank you for tuning into the Well Within Reach podcast with Melinda Mattox from Riverside's Quality Improvement Team and your host, Liz Unruh. To learn more about the services provided by Riverside Healthcare, visit riversidehealthcare.org.