Tory MP Craig Mackinlay’s limbs were amputated due to sepsis. Know all about life-threatening condition

Recently, Conservative MP Craig Mackinlay became the first ‘bionic MP’ of the British Parliament after both his hands and feet were amputated last year due to a medical condition called sepsis.

Mackinlayshared his ordeal with sepsis and shed some light on the life-threatening condition.

He told a local newspaper that he went into septic shock, which resulted in kidney and liver failure, blood clots forming and his limbs turning black.

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Here’s everything you need to know about sepsis.

What is medical condition sepsis?

Sepsis occurs when our immune system reacts extremely to an infection. It leads to extensive inflammation in the whole body that can result in tissue damage, organ failure and even death. However, sometimes our immune system stops fighting the infection and starts damaging our normal tissues and organs.

At the same time, an abnormal chain reaction in our clotting system can cause blood clots to form in our blood vessels. This reduces blood flow to the different organs of our body and can cause significant damage or even failure, according to Healthline.

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As per the World Health Organisation (WHO), sepsis is one of the most frequent causes of death worldwide. From data published in 2020, there were 48.9 million cases and 11 million sepsis-related deaths worldwide, representing 20 per cent of all global deaths.

Sepsis can be caused by any type of infection, including bacterial, viral, or fungal infections. Common sources include pneumonia, urinary tract infections, abdominal infections, and bloodstream infections.

Symptoms

WHO considered sepsis a medical emergency and people who think they may have sepsis should take medical care right away. Symptoms of sepsis include:

High or low body temperature

Rapid heart rate

Rapid breathing

Confusion or disorientation

Severe pain or discomfort

Low urine output

Who is at risk?

Anyone affected by an infection, severe injury, or serious non-communicable disease can progress to sepsis, but vulnerable populations are at higher risk, including:

Older persons

Pregnant or recently pregnant women

Neonates

Hospitalised patients

Patients in intensive care units

People with weakened immune systems (for example, HIV, cancer)

People with chronic medical conditions (for example, kidney disease, cirrhosis)

Treatment

Treatment for sepsis is most effective when started early. Doctors look for concerning signs and use tests to diagnose sepsis. They will try to find the source of infection. Early use of antimicrobials to treat bacteria, parasites, fungi, or viruses is essential for improving treatmentoutcomes.

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Low blood pressure is treated by intravenous fluids and sometimes medicines called vasopressors, which can increase blood pressure.

Antibiotic resistance can make treatment more difficult. In extreme cases, surgery is done to remove damaged tissue.

(With inputs from agencies)