NATIONWIDE — The New York State Office for the Aging (NYSOFA), Sepsis Alliance, the Association on Aging in New York (AgingNY), the Home Care Association of New York State and END SEPSIS urged organizations to join the Partnership for Sepsis and Aging (TPSA), a newly formed national coalition that aims to prevent and stop life-threatening sepsis by raising awareness of signs, symptoms and interventions.

TPSA members are asked to broadly share free sepsis prevention and awareness resources. Members also meet quarterly for the latest research, news, information sharing, tools and action items to grow awareness of sepsis and help protect older adults and people of all ages.

“The Partnership for Sepsis and Aging welcomes any organization nationwide that reaches older adults and families,” said Greg Olsen, TPSA Chair and NYSOFA director. “The message is simple: sepsis is a little-understood medical emergency that takes the life of a person in the U.S. every 90 seconds, but it’s also usually preventable, and that’s where progress can be made in saving lives. TPSA is ready to arm organizations with easy-to-use resources to help people take action and protect themselves or a loved one.”

TPSA is free to join, and more information is available at www.sepsis.org. 

More about sepsis

According to Sepsis Alliance, sepsis is the body’s overwhelming and life-threatening response to infection which can lead to tissue damage, organ failure and death. Over 80 percent of these deaths may be preventable. Sepsis is a medical emergency that requires rapid diagnosis and treatment.

While sepsis can and does affect people of all ages, the very young (infants) and those who already have a chronic health problem or a compromised immune system are at higher risk of developing it, according to the Sepsis Alliance. But people who are over 60 years old, particularly those who have health issues, are even more susceptible to sepsis than any other group. According to the Sepsis Alliance and END SEPSIS:

Sepsis is the number one cause of deaths in U.S. hospitals.

Sepsis is the most costly condition for hospital and skilled nursing care—$62 billion per year.

Sepsis is the number one cause of hospital readmissions.

Almost 60 percent of sepsis survivors experience worsened cognitive, mental and/or physical function.

Maternal sepsis is the second-leading cause of maternal death in the U.S.

Each day more than 200 children are diagnosed with severe sepsis—75,000 cases per year, and 18 die each day.

Black and “other nonwhite” individuals have nearly twice the incidence of sepsis as white individuals.

Sepsis risk factors

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, while anyone can develop sepsis, those at higher risk include:

Adults 65 years of age or older.

Children younger than one year of age.

People with weakened immune systems.

People with chronic medical conditions, such as diabetes, lung disease, cancer or kidney disease.

People with recent severe illness or hospitalization.

People who have had sepsis before.

Identify sepsis

It is crucial you get medical care right away if you have an infection that is not getting better or is getting worse. According to Sepsis Alliance, a person with sepsis might have one or more signs or symptoms:

Temperature that is higher or lower than normal.

May have signs and symptoms of infection.

Signs of mental decline: confused, sleepy, difficult to rouse.

Extremely ill: severe pain, discomfort, shortness of breath.

Becky Preve, executive director of AgingNY, said that sepsis is treatable if you know the signs and symptoms, and it is preventable with good infection prevention. 

More resources are available at www.sepsis.org.