Pneumonia, strep throat, salmonellosis, meningitis, and whooping cough are all examples of common bacterial infections. Antibiotic medications, which represent a major advancement in medicine, offer a safe and effective way to treat these and other infections. In many cases, patients will receive these medications in pill form, but they can also be administered intravenously in a hospital setting.
Failing to follow your doctor’s orders or neglecting to seek medical treatment for a bacterial infection can have severe consequences. One major complication is sepsis, which is characterized by a dangerous overreaction of one’s immune system response.
Under normal circumstances, your immune system launches an attack against germs, including bacteria, to fight off major illness. When you fail to get timely treatment for bacterial infections, a change in this immune response can lead to dangerous health consequences.
With sepsis, the immune system ceases attacking foreign invaders and instead targets organs and other bodily tissues. It can also cause dangerous blood clots to form. While anyone can develop sepsis, people with compromised immune systems and those who are very young or old have a higher risk.
Bacterial infections are a leading cause of sepsis, so proper management of these infections can greatly reduce your risk. Here are some important steps you can take:
Proper wound care, good hygiene, and regular doctor visits can also reduce your risk of sepsis. Sepsis can be life-threatening, but swift medical intervention can increase the chances of a good outcome.