Meet the Health Expert:
Nidhi Shah, MD
Associate Medical Director, Hospitalist Program, Greenwich Hospital, Northeast Medical Group
Dr. Shah serves as Greenwich Hospital’s associate medical director for its hospitalist program. Hospitalists are physicians who specialize in the care of patients who are in the hospital. They are board-certified in Internal Medicine or Family Medicine and treat a wide range of acute and chronic medical conditions, including sepsis, which affects 1.7 million people a year, according to the CDC. Dr. Shah recently won the hospital’s coveted Physician Partner-in-Care Award, recognizing a physician who promotes excellence in hospital practice, staff and patient interaction, teaching and leadership.
What is sepsis?
Sepsis is a life-threatening condition that arises when the body’s response to an infection triggers widespread inflammation and organ dysfunction. The immune system, while trying to fight off the infection, overreacts and begins to attack the body’s own tissues and organs, leading to potential organ failure and death if not treated promptly.
Who gets sepsis? Is there a population that is more susceptible?
Sepsis can affect anyone, but certain populations are more susceptible due to weakened immune systems, chronic conditions or age-related factors. People at higher risk for sepsis include older adults (65 and older), infants and young children, people with severe injuries or burns, patients with invasive devices and pregnant or postpartum women.
What are the symptoms of sepsis?
Sepsis symptoms can vary, but common signs include:
- Fever or low body temperature
- Chills and severe shivering
- Rapid heart rate or palpitations
- Rapid breathing or shortness of breath
- Confusion or altered mental state
- Extreme weakness or fatigue
- Low blood pressure that can lead to shock
- Pale, mottled or discolored skin
- Decreased urine output
- Severe pain or discomfort in various parts of the body
What types of infections can cause sepsis?
Sepsis can be caused by a wide variety of infections, including lung infections, urinary tract infections, abdominal infections, skin infections, bloodstream infections or infections associated with medical devices, such as catheters or IV lines.
What initiatives are in place at Greenwich Hospital to treat sepsis?
Greenwich Hospital’s sepsis quality improvement project was born out of a pressing need to address the significant impact of sepsis on patient outcomes within our healthcare system. With the aim of reducing mortality rates and improving patient care, our multidisciplinary team embarked on a comprehensive quality improvement initiative focused on optimizing sepsis management practices.
The initiative includes sepsis nursing education, a redesigned sepsis alert system for the entire hospital, a sepsis skills day for all healthcare providers and more.
