Sepsis in the ICU: Risk Factors Associated with Worsening of the Clinical Picture

Abstract

Sepsis is one of the main threats to patient health and global health, so it is a major concern worldwide.  In 2002, a campaign was set up to reduce mortality and death from sepsis and septic shock worldwide. The general objective of this study is to present risk factors as a source of aggravation of sepsis in intensive care unit patients. This is a qualitative literature review on the subject in question. A bibliographic survey was carried out on the topic in question, and the data was obtained from the following sources: Scientific Electronic Library Online (SCIELO), Latin American and Caribbean Literature in Health Sciences (LILACS), the Bibliographic Database Specialized in Nursing (BDENF), Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (MEDLINE), and the Virtual Health Library. The results listed the early signs and symptoms of sepsis, as well as presenting the risk factors that lead patients to worsening sepsis and specifying nursing care for early recognition of risk factors. The research shows that its high lethality is related to factors such as the body's exacerbated inflammatory response, the delay in diagnosis and therapeutic intervention, as well as clinical conditions and associated risk factors such as advanced age, the presence of comorbidities, the use of invasive devices and mechanical ventilation.