Blood poisoning from the abscess | Axillary abscess

Blood poisoning from the abscess

Sepsis, colloquially known as blood poisoning, is often the result of a large or long-standing inflammatory focus, for example an abscess of the axilla. It is a systemic (i.e. affecting the whole body) inflammatory reaction of the organism to this infection and is caused by the penetration of pathogens into the bloodstream. Blood poisoning is an acutely life-threatening condition.

The first symptoms are recurrent (intermittent) high fever, rapid breathing (tachypnea) and rapid heartbeat (tachycardia). As the disease progresses, there are also disturbances of consciousness (confusion, restlessness), nausea and reduced or no urination. Sepsis patients should be admitted to the clinic immediately and receive intensive medical treatment.

This includes in particular an immediate high-dose antibiotic therapy, which is adapted to the pathogen as soon as it has been detected by blood cultures. In addition, the cause must be eliminated, i.e. in this case the abscess must be repaired, and shock therapy must be administered. This includes, among other things, the administration of infusions and in the worst case of cortisol.