Teresa Hollnagel has been a nurse at Gundersen Health System for the past 34 years. Originally in Labor and Delivery, Teresa now works as a Professional Development Nurse in the Department of Nursing. In January 2022, she was asked to edit sepsis education materials that would roll out in March. Little did she know, this project would play a key role in saving her husband’s life just two months later.
At the end of March, Teresa’s husband, Rob, was scheduled for a prostate biopsy after routine lab work came back abnormal. Following the procedure, Rob did well. But, three days later, Teresa recalls him waking at 2 a.m. complaining of feeling chilled and needing extra blankets. After making sure he didn’t have a fever, Teresa considered the thought that Rob could have sepsis. She remembers Rob asking, “What’s sepsis?” before they both fell back asleep.
At 7 a.m. the next morning, Rob woke up feeling much better. But within 10 minutes, his chills were back and he was shaking so bad he couldn’t hold a cup of coffee. Concerned, Teresa wanted to take him to Urgent Care. Rob didn’t think that was necessary and asked for Tylenol. As Teresa went to get the Tylenol, Rob headed to the bathroom. Teresa had a gut feeling something was wrong. When she returned to his side, he was flushed and dripping with sweat. At this point, Teresa knew it was serious. She insisted they get care immediately. Rob responded that he felt so terrible, he wasn’t sure he could make it to the car. Together, they left the house and sped to Urgent Care at Gundersen Onalaska Clinic.
Teresa rushed Rob to the registration desk and announced his name and birthdate. She exclaimed, “I’m concerned about sepsis!” The sepsis education Teresa helped edit just months earlier played over and over in her head. All she could think was “Early Recognition, Early Intervention.” Teresa describes what happened next as a whirlwind. Rob was immediately taken back to a room where staff responded promptly. Rob had a fever and his blood pressure was low, prompting IV fluids and antibiotics to be given and labs to be drawn. Teresa knew things were serious when Rob was moved to a room with a crash cart in the event his status worsened quickly.
Soon, an ambulance transferred Rob to Gundersen in La Crosse. Teresa briefly stopped at home to gather some things and arrived at Rob’s room about 20 minutes after him. Instead of finding her husband, two nurses greeted Teresa. They told her Rob’s blood pressure continued to remain low and he was transferred to Critical Care for closer observation and management.
Within 24 hours of receiving fluids, medications and critical care, Rob’s condition improved. His blood cultures came back positive as the source of his infection. The following evening, he was discharged home. Teresa credits the learnings from the sepsis education she edited with saving Rob’s life. In those critical moments, “Early Recognition, Early Intervention” played over in her mind. She knew she needed to act fast when symptoms started appearing. Stating that she was concerned about sepsis – another learning from the education – helped set things in motion for speedy treatment. The medical and nursing teams that cared for Rob acknowledged that if she had waited even an hour longer at home, Rob’s story might have had a very different ending.
What is sepsis?
Sepsis is the body’s extreme response to an infection. It is a life-threatening medical emergency. Sepsis happens when an infection you already have triggers a chain reaction throughout your body. Infections that lead to sepsis most often start in the lung, urinary tract, skin, or gastrointestinal tract. Without timely treatment, sepsis can rapidly lead to tissue damage, organ failure, and death.
Is sepsis contagious?
You can’t spread sepsis to other people. However, an infection can lead to sepsis, and you can spread some infections to other people.
What causes sepsis?
Infections put you and your family at risk for sepsis. When germs get into a person’s body, they can cause an infection. If you don’t stop that infection, it can cause sepsis. Bacterial infections cause most cases of sepsis. Sepsis can also be a result of other infections, including viral infections, such as COVID-19 or influenza, or fungal infections.
Who is at risk?
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Adults 65+ years old
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People with weakened immune systems
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People with chronic health conditions like diabetes, lung or kidney disease, or cancer
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People with recent hospitalizations or severe illness
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People who have survived sepsis
How can you prevent sepsis?
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Prevent infections. Talk to your doctor or nurse about steps to prevent infections.
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Practice good hygiene. Remember to wash your hands and keep cuts clean and covered until healed.
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Know the symptoms. Symptoms of sepsis can include any combination of these:
- S – Shivering or fevers
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E – Extreme pain
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P – Pale, clammy skin
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S – Sleepy, disoriented, confused
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I – “I feel like I might die.”
- S – Suddenly short of breath
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Act fast. Get medical care IMMEDIATELY if you suspect sepsis or have an infection that is not getting better or is worsening.