Bed Sore FAQ» Infection In Bed Sore

Can bed sores cause cellulitis?

admin — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 19:45:39 +0000

Yes. Cellulitis is a bacterial (usually staph or strep) infection in the skin and the underlying connective tissue that usually is associated with pain, swelling and discoloration. Patients with open wounds caused by bed sores are susceptible to contracting cellulitis as the wound provides easy access for the bacteria to enter the body. When left untreated, cellulitis may cause or contribute to other medical complications such as meningitis and sepsis.

Sepsis

Sepsis is a bacterial infection in the bloodstream or body tissues, frequently found in patients with severe bed sores (similarly called: decubitus ulcers, pressure ulcers or pressure sores). Some patients with sepsis experience a complete inflammation of their body due to infection of blood. If a person does not respond to medical treatment, they may go into septic shock which can result in organ failure and extreme low blood pressure (hypotension) or decreased blood flow (hypoperfusion). The mortality rate for patients with sepsis is 20% to 40%.

Meningitis

Meningitis is an infection in the membrane and fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord. There are two general types of meningitis– viral meningitis and bacterial meningitis. In order to determine what type of meningitis a person has, a physician must sample the spinal fluid and perform a culture. Determining the strain of meningitis will determine the type of treatment.

Because of the risk of severe medical complications with cellulitis, it is important for medical facilities to promptly make an accurate diagnosis of the cellulitis (usually with a blood test) and to administer antibiotics.

What are the signs of infection for people who have bed sores?

admin — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 00:33:08 +0000

People with advanced bed sores (stage 3 or stage 4) are particularly susceptible to developing infection– both in the wound itself and potentially systematically. In order to minimize risk of infection, care should be taken to keep the wound clean and dry. Dressings should be changed on a regular basis as ordered by a treating physician.

The following may indicate infection within the wound itself:

Increased pain in the wound
Edema (swelling)
Reddening of the wound (erythema)
Increased fluid accumulation
Heat in the wound area
Unusual smell

Occasionally, an infection that originates in the wound itself, can spread throughout the entire body. These situations can pose a significant health risk to the individual. Signs of systematic infection include:

Elevated white blood cell count
Elevated body temperature
Cellulitis (skin infection)
Osteomyelitis (bone infection)

Because infection is a frequent complication for people with bed sores, physicians and other medical professionals should make the monitoring of existing wounds a priority. Wounds should be documented and photographed to assist in the evaluation of woulds as they heal.

If you have an existing bed sore and have any of the above conditions, contact your medical professional immediately.

Is necrotizing fasciitis related to bed sores?

admin — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 09:05:01 +0000

In rare circumstances patients with advanced bed sores (stage 3 or stage 4) may contract necrotizing fasciitis– also referred to as flesh eating bacteria. Because people with severe bed sores literally have an open wound, they are at a higher risk for contracting the infection causing bacteria that can cause necrotizing fasciitis. The early stages of necrotizing fasciitis are characterized by severe pain and swelling in the area of the infection frequently accompanied by diarrhea and vomiting.

Rather than ‘eating’ the flesh, as is commonly suggested, necrotizing fasciitis infection causes flesh to die. Necrotizing fasciitis may be treated in the early stages with antibiotics. As it advances, more severe surgical treatment is usually necessary to maximize recovery rates. The mortality rate for people wit necrotizing fasciitis is over 70%.

Is sepsis related to bed sores?

admin — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 18:52:54 +0000

If your loved one has a bed sore and is later diagnosed with sepsis then there is a strong likelihood that the sepsis is due to the bed sore or open wound. Sepsis is an illness caused by infection in the bloodstream by bacteria.

Sepsis (also referred to as: severe sepsis, sepsis infection, septic shock, severe sepsis, septicemia) must be identified and treated as early on as possible in order to provide the best chances of survival. If left undiagnosed and untreated, sepsis can be fatal. In order to make a diagnosis of sepsis, at least two of the following must occur: a heart rate above 90 beats per minute, hyperventilation (more than 20 breaths per minute) and white blood cell count below below 4000 cells/mm.

Symptoms of sepsis include:

Fever
Low body temperature (hypothermia)
Loss of ability to appreciate surroundings
Cool hands and feet
Anxiety
Shaking
Organ dysfunction

Frequently, people use the term sepsis to describe ‘severe sepsis’ and ‘septic shock.’ Severe sepsis is used to describe people who have organ dysfunction following a diagnosis of sepsis. People diagnosed with septic shock have sepsis with hypo-tension (abnormally low blood pressure).

Sepsis is a common medical condition; it accounts for:

1-2% of all hospitalizations
25% of all intensive care visits
100,000 deaths per year
The most common cause of death in intensive care units

In order for treatment to be most effective, it must be implemented as soon as the diagnosis is made. Generally, treatment consists of antibiotics and surgical drainage. Nutritional supplements are also suggested as treatment for sepsis.

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