'She left behind two beautiful children': Corkman warns of sepsis risk after sister's death 

James Corcoran with Irish Sepsis Foundation chairwoman Doireann O’Mahony. Mr Corcoran, whose sister Tracey died from sepsis, is calling for more supports for survivors of the dangerous condition.

A Corkman whose sister died from sepsis is calling for better supports for survivors of this dangerous condition as the HSE warns that sepsis can hide behind any infection.

James Corcoran’s sister Tracey was just 37 years old when she passed away in June 2020.

“She left behind two beautiful children,” said Mr Corcoran.

“Tracey was a wonderful mother, a caring daughter, an amazing sister, and a great friend.

“September gives us the opportunity not only to honour her and thousands of others but also to shine a light on these horrific cases that not only our family but many others have gone though.”

World Sepsis Day sees events in Ireland and elsewhere to highlight symptoms of this dangerous and fast-moving infection.

Mr Corcoran also stressed the need to better support patients who survive.

He said a lot of sepsis survivors in Ireland experience “a lack of aftercare services”.

He said others face post-sepsis syndrome (PSS). This can last months or even years.

Symptoms can include exhaustion, flashbacks, depression, and becoming ill with other conditions more often.

Mr Corcoran, a board member of Cork-based charity Irish Sepsis Foundation, said raising awareness is key.

A spokeswoman said that over 80% of the calls received by the charity about PSS show survivors left without check-ups or guidance, in effect, left to fend for themselves.

“Despite how common PSS is, it remains severely under-recognised,” she said.

Too often, survivors are not told about PSS before being discharged from the hospital, leaving them to cope without any support network.”

The HSE said 15,722 cases of sepsis and septic shock were diagnosed in Irish hospitals last year.

“While there has been a rise in cases of sepsis, the mortality rate has decreased at 19.3% when compared with the previous year — 21.8%,” it said.

HSE Sepsis Programme clinical lead Michael O’Dwyer said: “Sepsis can hide behind any infection and can lead to a rapid deterioration in health.

“Research has found that symptoms of sepsis are easy to dismiss, miss, or mistake for something else.”

Signs of sepsis in adults include slurred speech and extreme shivering. Signs in children include very fast breathing and mottled skin.

"I look back to when my sister passed away, and there were no supports here," said Mr Corcoran, saying searching online only took him to a UK support group. 

• The Irish Sepsis Foundation offers support at [phone].