'Sepsis is an indiscriminate killer': GPs get new guidelines for treating potentially fatal condition

HSE chief clinical officer Dr Colm Henry at the launch of the GP guidelines on sepsis.

Sepsis is an “indiscriminate killer”, the father of a teenage boy who died has warned, as GPs receive a new guide on identifying and preventing the condition.

Doctors urged the public to stay up-to-date with vaccines to help prevent infections which could lead to the potentially fatal condition.

Life has never been the same for Joe Hughes and his wife since their teenage son Sean died suddenly from sepsis in 2018.

“I’m speaking about sepsis because not enough is known about this global epidemic,” he said.

“Sepsis is an indiscriminate killer. Anybody at any age, any fitness, or any stage of life can get sepsis.” 

Mr Hughes co-founded Lil Red's Legacy Sepsis Awareness Campaign. Posting online this week, he urged parents to ask: "Could this be sepsis?" and to learn the signs.

HSE chief clinical officer Dr Colm Henry helped launch the new GP guide in Dublin.

“I want to acknowledge Joe and Karen Hughes from the Lil Red's campaign," he said. "They’re an extraordinary couple whose son died from sepsis years ago, an unimaginable loss for them.”

He added while their pain was still “so evident”, “they have transferred their own grief into a movement".

The guidelines, written by the Irish College of General Practitioners, are “a significant milestone in the development of sepsis guidance and in our efforts to combat sepsis”, he said.

Dr Henry separately heads up the group putting recommendations into action from the report into the death of Aoife Johnston. The teenager was not given antibiotics against sepsis until more than 13 hours after arriving at University Hospital Limerick with a GP letter noting suspected sepsis.

The new guidelines advise that if transferring patients to a hospital, to tell paramedics about suspected sepsis, and “clearly document” this on referral letters. 

They are advised to telephone the emergency department. “Pre-alerting before arrival in the emergency department has been found to almost halve the time of in-hospital treatment for patients,” the guidelines state.

Lead author and HSE clinical lead on adult sepsis, Dr Ellen, Hayes said remembering patients and families affected was really important.

The data shows between 70% and 80% of sepsis infections happen in the community, meaning GPs have a key role.

“Sepsis in its early stages, especially, can be quite subtle, the signs can be mild, and it can mimic other illnesses such as influenza,” she said.

Sometimes a patient's condition might worsen after going home from their GP, she said, adding: “In general practice, we don’t have the capacity for periodic re-assessment of patients”.

She also urged the public, especially vulnerable groups, to get vaccinated against illnesses which could lead to sepsis.

Dr Hayes said these include flu, pneumococcal, and covid-19 vaccines.