Could THIS save thousands of people dying from sepsis? Scientists discover what causes an infection to spiral into the silent killer
- The ‘silent killer’ strikes when an infection sparks a violent immune response
- However, current tests to detect sepsis can take days – sometimes even longer
- The new research paves the way for a much quicker way of diagnosing a patient
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Thousands of lives may be saved after a scientific breakthrough today shed new light on what causes everyday bugs to trigger sepsis.
The ‘silent killer’ strikes when an infection, such as blood poisoning, sparks a violent immune response in which the body attacks its own organs.
Current tests to detect sepsis take days – sometimes even longer – and doctors dish out antibiotics to patients they suspect are battling it.
But the new research paves the way for a much quicker way of diagnosing a patient, significantly boosting their chances of survival.
The ‘silent killer’ strikes when an infection, such as blood poisoning, sparks a violent immune response in which the body attacks its own organs
Tests on mice and humans discovered two molecules are produced by immune cells during prolonged inflammation, as seen in sepsis.
Columbia University scientists found elevated levels of the microRNAs – tiny pieces of genetic code – can signal the need for urgent treatment.
The Daily Mail’s End The Sepsis Scandal campaign has repeatedly called for a radical improvement in how the NHS tackles the condition.
Sepsis kills 44,000 in the UK and 250,000 in the US each year – but it’s treatable with fluids and intravenous antibiotics, but these must be given very early on.
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If not treated promptly, it can lead to tissue damage and major organ failure. Even if a patient survives, they can suffer brain damage or loss of limbs.
Diagnosis is currently based on an assessment of clinical signs, including a high temperature, abnormal heart and breathing rates.
The most reliable way to confirm diagnosis is to send a blood sample to a lab, where it is cultured and tested for a number of proteins thought to be affected by infection.
But this is not sufficiently sensitive or specific and results can take up to three days. The new findings, published in Nature, offer hope of a much quicker test.
Elevated levels of the microRNAs miR-221 and miR-222 were shown to suppress the immune system of mice with sepsis.
The researchers then searched for levels of the two microRNAs among 30 patients hospitalised with suspected sepsis.
Those with signs of organ failure – when sepsis takes hold without treatment – had higher levels of miR-221 and miR-222 in their blood.
Researchers led by Professor Sankar Ghosh believe a test for the two microRNAs could help identify patients battling sepsis, and those who aren’t.
A faster diagnosis would allow doctors to start antibiotics and fluids to control the infection more quickly – before organs completely fail.
Clinical trials will be needed to validate the usefulness of testing patients for these microRNAs as a quick guide to prognosis and treatment.
Professor Ghosh, an immunologist, said: ‘The best treatment for sepsis starts with rapid detection.
‘Our results suggest that specific molecules called microRNAs may be potential biomarkers of poor prognosis.’
It comes after NHS bosses last November announced a smart plaster that detects the early signs of sepsis is to be fast-tracked into hospitals.
Trials of the Respira Sense device show it can identify a deteriorating patient an average of six hours earlier than current methods – boosting survival chances.
What are the key symptoms of sepsis? The ‘silent killer’ that can cause death in minutes
Sepsis, known as the ‘silent killer’, strikes when an infection such as blood poisoning sparks a violent immune response in which the body attacks its own organs.
It is the leading cause of avoidable death, killing at least 44,000 a year.
If caught early, the infection can be controlled by antibiotics before the body goes into overdrive – ultimately leading to death within a matter of minutes.
Sepsis is a leading cause of avoidable death killing 44,000 people each year
But the early symptoms of sepsis can be easily confused with more mild conditions, meaning it can be difficult to diagnose.
A patient can rapidly deteriorate if sepsis is missed early on, so quick diagnosis and treatment is vital – yet this rarely happens.
In the early stages, sepsis can be mistaken for a chest infection, flu or upset stomach.
The six signs of something potentially deadly can be identified by the acronym ‘SEPSIS’:
- Slurred speech or confusion.
- Extreme shivering or muscle pain.
- Passing no urine in a day.
- Severe breathlessness.
- ‘I feel like I might die.’
- Skin that’s mottled or discoloured.
Anyone who develops any of these symptoms should seek medical help urgently — and ask doctors: ‘Could this be sepsis?’
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