The Importance of Early Sepsis Detection & Warning Signs

Sepsis is not just a bad infection. We are exposed to infection-causing agents every day, and usually, the immune system can effectively combat most agents such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites. But in some cases, the body’s immune system exhibits a life-threatening response to infection, which if left untreated, can lead to tissue damage, organ failure and death.

Sepsis can develop quickly and is often difficult to distinguish from other diseases, which is why it is one of the leading causes of death in hospitals. In fact, sepsis affects at least 1.7 million adults in the United States each year and is responsible for at least 350,000 adult deaths annually. Additionally, many survivors never fully recover and may battle with physical and/or psychological long-term effects.

What Are the Early Warning Signs of Sepsis?

Sepsis can develop rapidly, and the symptoms often mimic those of other conditions. However, there are a few key indicators to keep in mind, and recognizing these signs may help in early diagnosis and treatment.

Some of the signs and symptoms of sepsis may include:

• Change in mental status, such as confusion, agitation
• Difficulty breathing
• Weakness and/or feeling lightheaded
• Fever, feeling cold or chills
• Fast heart rate
• Low blood pressure
• Development of a rash that may look like bruising
• Nausea

Recognizing the urgency of early detection, Sepsis Alliance launched the national initiative “It’s About TIME™” to raise awareness of sepsis symptoms and stress the importance of seeking immediate medical attention. The campaign highlights abnormal Temperature, Infection, Mental decline, and Extremely ill feelings (T.I.M.E.) as key indicators of sepsis.

It is important to note that the symptoms of sepsis are not specific, and these can vary from person to person. Healthcare provider review of all symptoms is essential to ensure proper diagnosis. If you or your loved ones experience a combination of these symptoms: seek urgent medical care, call 911, or go to the hospital with an advocate.

Image credit: Sepsis Alliance

What Are the Challenges of Early Sepsis Detection?

Despite its wide prevalence, early sepsis detection remains a significant challenge for healthcare professionals even today as there is no “gold standard” test for sepsis. Clinicians often have to rely on non-specific physical symptoms as well as a combination of common blood tests for sepsis diagnosis. Moreover, sepsis can manifest differently in each patient, and this variability can make it difficult for clinicians to spot early signs consistently. By the time sepsis is diagnosed, in many cases, it may have already caused irreversible damage.

“Imagine if we only defined a hurricane by the damage it caused or the homes it destroyed—that would be too late to take action,” says Dr. Hollis O’Neal, Medical Director of Research at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center. “We need to act before that happens—like warning people about the storm ahead so we can prepare and protect lives.”

Without early detection and treatment, sepsis can progress rapidly, leading to organ failure and death. Studies have shown that the risk of death from sepsis rises by up to 9% for each hour treatment is delayed. Although tools like blood cultures and biomarkers exist, they may not be specific to sepsis. Furthermore, these tests can take time, allowing sepsis to worsen unnoticed during critical hours.

These challenges demonstrate the need for more sophisticated and reliable early detection methods. A more efficient, objective, and rapid solution could dramatically improve outcomes and streamline workflows for healthcare providers.

How IntelliSep Sepsis Test Can Help with Early Sepsis Detection

Cytovale’s IntelliSep sepsis test is revolutionizing the way healthcare professionals approach early sepsis detection by allowing them to see the biology of sepsis, with a turnaround time of ~8 minutes on the Cytovale system. IntelliSep is the first and only U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-cleared cellular host diagnostic indicated for use to aid in early detection of sepsis in adults who present to the emergency department with signs and symptoms of infection.

IntelliSep assesses immune activation using host response technology and machine learning to analyze biomechanical changes in a patient’s white blood cells and provides a probability of sepsis occurring within 3 days of testing. Results are reported as a score (0.1 – 10.0), indicating a low to high probability of sepsis, which is further stratified into 3 discrete bands.

The technology was first implemented at hospitals within a leading health system in the southeast United States and is already enabling care teams to quickly and confidently identify the proper diagnosis and deliver appropriate care. Through the use of the IntelliSep sepsis test, one site reported more than a 30% reduction in overall risk-adjusted mortality index for sepsis patients and patients at risk for sepsis were treated 60 to 70 minutes faster in the first 90 days. Patients who were tested with IntelliSep and subsequently admitted spent 1.28 fewer days in the hospital, and the hospital realized an average savings of $1,429 per patient tested.

Want to learn more about how IntelliSep could make a difference in your emergency department and hospital? Contact us at info@cytovale.com to be connected to one of our sepsis care experts.