Sepsis and the brain: a review for acute and general physicians

Carter, Bethan L. and Underwood, Jonathan ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6963-2821 2022. Sepsis and the brain: a review for acute and general physicians. Clinical Medicine 22 (5) , pp. 392-395. 10.7861/clinmed.2022-0346

Preview

PDF - Published Version Download (146kB) | Preview

Abstract

Sepsis-associated encephalopathy (SAE) describes acute cognitive dysfunction secondary to systemic or peripheral infection occurring outside of the central nervous system (CNS). Symptoms can range from mild confusion to coma and may precede the clinical signs of sepsis. Recognition that SAE is a potential differential diagnosis in patients presenting with delirium is important, as SAE is a diagnosis of exclusion. Physicians should also be aware that severe SAE is associated with a high mortality. Although mortality is often secondary to multiorgan failure rather than neurological sequelae, long-term cognitive and psychological morbidities have been reported in sepsis survivors. Early treatment (which can include prompt identification and source control of the infection) and good supportive care might improve cognitive outcomes. Future work should aim to improve understanding of both acute and chronic SAE with a focus on therapeutic interventions and improving patient outcomes.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Published Online
Status:	Published
Schools:	Medicine
ISSN:	1470-2118
Funders:	MRC
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	13 October 2022
Date of Acceptance:	9 September 2022
Last Modified:	04 May 2023 15:03
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/152907

Citation Data

Cited 1 time in Scopus. View in Scopus. Powered By Scopus® Data

Actions (repository staff only)

Edit Item