Sepsis is a life-threatening medical emergency where early recognition and appropriate treatment can be critical. Our medical negligence solicitors have supported many people and families affected by sepsis, including those who have experienced serious and life-changing injuries following delays in diagnosis or treatment.

Sepsis can develop quickly and, in the most serious cases, can result in organ damage, amputation or death. For those who survive, the effects can continue long after they leave hospital.

During Sepsis Awareness Month, we are drawing on our experience to explain how sepsis should be recognised and treated, where delays can occur and when the care provided may amount to medical negligence.

What is sepsis?

Sepsis is a life-threatening reaction to an infection. It happens when the body's response to infection begins to damage its own tissues and organs.

Symptoms can include:

• rapid breathing or shortness of breath
• fever, shivering or feeling unusually cold
• confusion or slurred speech
• severe muscle pain
• discoloured, mottled or pale skin
• reduced urine output.

Sepsis can develop from many different infections, including pneumonia, urinary tract infections (UTIs), abdominal infections and infections following surgery.

Without appropriate treatment, a person's condition can deteriorate rapidly and sepsis can progress to septic shock and organ failure.

How is sepsis diagnosed and treated?

Sepsis requires urgent medical assessment and treatment. Healthcare professionals should consider a person's symptoms, observations, test results, medical history and risk factors when assessing whether sepsis may be present.

Treatment will depend on the individual but can include intravenous antibiotics and fluids, blood tests and cultures, oxygen where required and close monitoring. Patients who are seriously unwell may require intensive care.

NEWS2 – the National Early Warning Score – is widely used within the NHS to help identify patients whose condition may be deteriorating.

The Sepsis Six is another framework used to support the management of suspected sepsis. It includes measures such as giving antibiotics and intravenous fluids, taking blood cultures, measuring lactate and monitoring urine output.

These tools form part of a wider clinical assessment. The important question is whether the patient was appropriately assessed and treated based on their individual circumstances.

When can sepsis amount to medical negligence?

Developing sepsis does not automatically mean that medical negligence has occurred. However, there may be grounds to investigate where opportunities to recognise or treat sepsis were missed and this caused avoidable harm.

Through our work supporting people affected by sepsis, some of the issues that can arise include:

• Failure to recognise symptoms: signs of infection or deterioration may be missed or attributed to another condition without appropriate investigation.
• Failure to act on test results: abnormal blood results or other concerning findings may not be reviewed or acted upon appropriately.
• Failure to investigate an infection: a possible source of infection, such as a UTI, chest infection, wound or post-operative infection, may not be appropriately investigated.
• Misdiagnosis: sepsis can present in different ways and symptoms such as confusion or slurred speech may initially suggest another condition.
• Failure to admit or monitor: a patient showing signs of infection or deterioration may be discharged without appropriate investigation, treatment or follow-up.
• Delayed treatment: an avoidable delay in providing appropriate antibiotics or other treatment can allow an infection and sepsis to progress.
• Failure to recognise increased risk: babies, older people, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems can be particularly vulnerable to sepsis and its complications.

Whether any of these issues amounts to medical negligence will depend on the circumstances and the care that could reasonably have been expected at the time.

What can happen if sepsis treatment is delayed?

A delay in diagnosing or treating sepsis can allow the condition to become more severe.

In serious cases, this can result in:

• organ damage or failure
• kidney, lung or cardiovascular complications
• brain injury
• amputation
• reduced mobility
• psychological injury
• a need for ongoing rehabilitation or care.

Some people also experience longer-term physical, cognitive and psychological difficulties following sepsis, sometimes referred to as Post-Sepsis Syndrome. These can include fatigue, memory and concentration difficulties, reduced strength, sleep problems, anxiety and depression.

For some people, the effects are permanent. They may need ongoing treatment, rehabilitation, prosthetics, specialist equipment or help with everyday life.

We also see how serious sepsis can affect the whole family. Partners and relatives may take on caring responsibilities, while changes to someone's health and ability to work can have a significant impact on family life and finances.

Can I make a sepsis negligence claim?

You may be able to make a sepsis negligence claim if the medical care you received fell below an appropriate standard and this caused avoidable harm.

A successful medical negligence claim will generally need to establish two things: that there was a failure in the care provided and that this failure caused the person additional injury or made their outcome worse.

Independent medical experts will usually review the medical records to consider what should have happened and whether earlier or different treatment would have resulted in a better outcome.

Where negligence has caused serious or lasting harm, compensation can help meet the cost of rehabilitation, ongoing treatment, care, prosthetics, specialist equipment, home adaptations and loss of earnings.

How our sepsis negligence solicitors can help

Our medical negligence solicitors have supported many people and families affected by sepsis and understand how significant the consequences of delayed diagnosis or treatment can be.

We can investigate the care you received, obtain your medical records and work with independent medical experts to establish whether opportunities to diagnose or treat sepsis were missed.

For many people, seeking legal advice is not only about compensation. It can also be about understanding what happened and getting the treatment, rehabilitation and support they need for the future.

If you or someone close to you has experienced avoidable harm following delayed diagnosis or treatment of sepsis, our medical negligence team can help you understand your options.