Serum Samples from Sepsis Patients

Bay Biosciences provides high quality, clinical grade, cryogenically preserved K2EDTA plasma, sera (serum) and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), bio-fluid samples from sepsis patients.

The K2EDTA plasma, sera (serum) and PBMC bio-fluid specimens are processed from sepsis patient’s peripheral whole-blood using customized collection and processing protocols.

Sepsis Overview

It is likelier to develop in older people, younger children, and individuals with weakened immune systems or certain health issues.

Every year, sepsis affects around 1.7 million people in the United States and causes nearly 270,000 deaths. Around 1 in 3 deaths in hospitals result from sepsis.

Learning to spot the signs can help people receive the right care quickly. Sepsis is a medical emergency, and prompt treatment can save lives. In the past, people used the term septicemia, but this led to confusion. Experts now use the term sepsis instead.

Sepsis is an extreme immune response to an infection. In a patient with sepsis, the immune system can injure tissues and organs, and it can be life threatening. Sepsis may be a response to an infection that develops in the skin, lungs, urinary tract, or another part of the body.

A common cause is septicemia, a bacterial infection in the blood. Sometimes people confuse the terms “sepsis” and “septicemia,”  but they are different issues.

Sepsis itself is not contagious and cannot spread it to other people. But you can spread the infections that can cause sepsis.

Who Gets Affected by Sepsis?

Sepsis can affect anyone, but individuals with any kind of infection, especially bacteremia, are at a particularly high risk.

Other people who are at a high risk include the following:

• Individuals older than 65 years old, newborns and infants, and pregnant people.
• Patients with medical conditions such as diabetes, obesity, cancer and kidney disease.
• People with catheters, IVs or breathing tubes.
• Individuals with weakened immune systems.
• People who are in the hospital for other medical reasons.
• Patients with severe injuries, such as large burns or wounds.

How Common is Sepsis?

More than 1.7 million patients in the United States receive a diagnosis of sepsis each year. There are differences in sepsis rates among different demographic groups. Sepsis is more common among older adults, with incidence increasing with each year after the age of 65 years old.

Stages of Sepsis

There are three stages of sepsis:

• Sepsis: An infection gets into the bloodstream and causes inflammation in your body.
• Severe Sepsis: The infection and inflammation is severe enough to start affecting organ function.
• Septic Shock: Septic shock is a severe complication of sepsis that causes a significant drop in blood pressure. This can lead to many serious complications including the following:
  • Organ dysfunction
  • Respiratory or heart failure
  • Stroke
  • Possible death

While sepsis often occurs in hospital settings, it can also happen in other locations. In some cases, you might not even know you have an infection that could potentially lead to sepsis.

Signs and Symptoms of Sepsis

Anyone with an infection who develops the following sepsis symptoms needs urgent medical attention:

• A rapid pulse, also known as tachycardia
• Clammy or sweaty skin
• Difficulty breathing
• Extreme pain or discomfort
• Fever with chills, and shivering
• Redness and swelling around a wound

If the sepsis gets severe, it can also cause the following:

• A feeling of doom or sudden fear of death
• Confusion, reduced alertness, and other charges in the patient’s mental state
• Cool, pale skin at the extremities
• Diarrhea, nausea or vomiting
• Dizziness or faintness 
• Feeling lightheaded
• Low blood pressure
• Loss of consciousness
• Low urine volume
• Pale, discolored, or mottled skin
• Shivering
• Shortness of breath
• Severe pain and extreme general discomfort
• Skin that feels unusually warm or cold, as with a fever
• Slurred speech
• Sweating for no clear reason

As sepsis progresses, septic shock can occur. This involves blood pressure falling dangerously low, meaning that oxygen can no longer reach the body’s organs.

Older adults and younger children have a particularly high risk of sepsis, and they are also more likely to experience a rapid worsening of sepsis symptoms. But the issue can be harder to spot in these age groups.

Symptoms can also be harder to identify in individuals with:

• Communication problems

• Dementia

• Learning difficulties

When an individual requests medical help, the healthcare provider needs to know about the following:

• Any symptoms
• Whether the person has a compromised immune system
• Any recent infections, traumas, or surgical procedures
• Whether the person has diabetes or any other chronic condition

This may help speed up the diagnosis and allow for more quick treatment.

Signs and Symptoms of Severe Sepsis

Severe sepsis is characterized by organ failure. You must have one or more of the following signs to be diagnosed with severe sepsis:

• Abnormal heart functions
• Blush discoloration of the skin, especially lips, fingers, toes
• Chills due to a drop in body temperature
• Changes in mental ability
• Decreased urination
• Difficulty breathing
• Extreme weakness (asthenia)
• Dizziness
• Low platelet count (thrombocytopenia)
• Unconsciousness

Signs and Symptoms of Septic shock (septicemia)

Sepsis can advance very quickly to severe sepsis and septic shock. As it transitions, it becomes more life threatening.

Some severe sepsis and septic shock symptoms can overlap, like severe difficulty breathing, acute confusion, and bluish skin. Another key symptom of septic shock is very low blood pressure.

Causes of Sepsis

Any type of infection can lead to sepsis. This includes bacterial, viral or fungal infections. Those that more commonly cause sepsis include infections of:

• Lungs, such as pneumonia
• Kidney, bladder and other parts of the urinary system
• Digestive system
• Bloodstream
• Catheter sites
• Viral infections including COVID-19
• Wounds or burns

The pathogen may enter the body through a wound or during or after surgery.

People can get sepsis when an infection triggers a chain reaction throughout your body causing organ dysfunction.

The infection leading to sepsis can start in many different parts of the body. Common sites and types of infections that can lead to sepsis include the following:

Respiratory System

• Infections involving your lungs, such as pneumonia.

Urinary Tract System

• Urinary tract infections (UTI’s) are especially likely if you have a catheter.

Gastrointestinal System

• Infection of your appendix (appendicitis).
• Bowel problems.
• Infection in your abdominal cavity (peritonitis).
• Gallbladder or liver infections.

Central Nervous System

• Infections of the brain or spinal cord.

Skin

• Bacteria can enter your skin through wounds, inflammation or openings made with catheters and IVs.
• Conditions such as cellulitis (inflammation of the skin’s connective tissue).

Risk Factors of Sepsis

Following factors that increase the risk infection will lead to sepsis include:

• A condition that requires treatment with corticosteroids, which can lower immune response.
• Admission to intensive care unit or longer hospital stays.
• Devices that go in the body, such as catheters in the vein, called intravenous, or breathing tubes.
• Infancy.
• Individuals with lower immune response, such as those being treated for cancer or people with HIV/AIDS.
• Patients with chronic diseases, such as diabetes, kidney disease or COPD.
• People over the age of 65.
• Treatment with antibiotics in the last 90 days.

Sepsis in Infants or Newborns

Sepsis can develop within 24 hours of birth, and in newborns, the issue is called neonatal sepsis. A baby is considered a neonate up to 90 days after delivery.

There is a higher risk of neonatal sepsis if:

• The person had a group B streptococcal infection during pregnancy.
• Delivery is preterm.
• The water breaks more than 24 hours before delivery.

Late-onset neonatal sepsis starts 24 hours or more after delivery. It can stem from a bacterial, viral, or fungal infection.

There is a higher risk of late-onset sepsis if the infant spends time in the hospital to receive treatment for another problem or comes into contact with someone who has an infection.

Signs and symptoms of neonatal sepsis include the following:

• A swollen abdomen
• Breathing problems
• Changes in body temperature
• Diarrhea and vomiting
• Jaundice
• Low blood sugar
• Reduced movement, including sucking
• Slow heart rate
• Seizures
  

Sepsis in Older Adults

Older people have a higher risk of sepsis because they:

• Usually have other conditions, such as diabetes
• Have a higher risk of malnutrition
• Often have reduced immunity
• Have more frequent infections, especially those that can lead to sepsis

Sepsis often stems from a urinary tract infection or an infection of the respiratory tract, such as pneumonia or the flu. In 2020, COVID-19 emerged as a risk factor for sepsis, especially in older adults.

The early signs of sepsis may be harder to spot in older adults than in younger people, and the issue can progress more rapidly.

According to Sepsis Alliance, people aged over 65 years are 13 times more likely to spend time in the hospital with sepsis than those aged under 65. In addition, 63% of people aged 60 and over have sepsis on entering intensive care.

After an older person recovers from sepsis, they may have an increased risk of:

• A repeat infection
• Chronic pain and fatigue
• Organ damage
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PSTD)

Overall, it is crucial for older patients and their loved ones to recognize the signs of sepsis, ensure prompt treatment for any type of infection, and take steps to prevent sepsis from developing.

Diagnosis of Sepsis

It’s very important to quickly identify people with infections that may go on to develop sepsis. There are no strict criteria to diagnose sepsis. Doctors use a combination of findings such as a physical exam, lab tests, X-rays and other tests to identify the infection (blood cultures) to diagnose sepsis.

Doctors may sometimes suspect sepsis at bedside using the set of sepsis criteria, a tool called quick sequential organ failure assessment (qSOFA). You may have sepsis if you have confirmed or probable infection and at least two of the following criteria:

• Low blood pressure: Systolic blood pressure (the top number) reading of less than 100 mmHg (millimeters of mercury).
• High respiratory rate: Respiratory rate faster than 22 breaths per minute.
• Glasgow coma scale: A score of 15 or less on the Glasgow coma scale, which determines your level of consciousness.

Healthcare providers will request a number of additional tests to identify the infection and any organ damage or dysfunction. These tests may include the following:

• Blood tests: Complete blood count (CBC), blood cultures, tests to check for abnormal liver and kidney function, clotting problems and electrolyte abnormalities.
• Blood Oxygen level: A test to evaluate the level of oxygen in your blood.
• Urine tests: Urinalysis and urine culture.
• Imaging tests: X-rays or CT scans.

Sepsis Criteria

There are two sets of criteria doctors use to determine the severity of sepsis. One set of criteria is for systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS).

SIRS is defined when a patient meets two or more of the following criteria:

• A fever of more than 100.4°F (38°C) or less than 96.8°F (36°C)
• An abnormal white blood count (WBC)
• Heart rate of more than 90 beats per minute
• Respiratory rate of more than 20 breaths per minute or arterial carbon dioxide tension (PaCO₂) of less than 32 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg)

Another tool is the quick sequential organ failure assessment (qSOFA). It uses the results of three criteria:

• Glasgow coma scale score of 14 or less to determine your level of consciousness
• High respiratory rate (greater than 22 breaths per minute)
• Low blood pressure reading (systolic blood pressure) of less than 100 mm Hg)

A positive qSOFA occurs when two or more of the above measurements are abnormal. Some physicians prefer using qSOFA because, unlike the SIRS criteria, qSOFA doesn’t require laboratory tests.

The results of either of these assessments will help your healthcare provider determine the best possible course of treatment.

Treatment of Sepsis

Sepsis can quickly progress to septic shock and death if it’s left untreated.. A doctor will provide rapid treatment for sepsis, including the following:

• Administering antibiotics, if the infection is bacterial
• Provide oxygen and intravenous fluids to ensure blood flow to the organs
• Scheduling surgery, if necessary, to remove damaged tissue
• Treating the cause of the infection
• Providing a means of assisted breathing, if appropriate

Healthcare providers use a number of medications to treat sepsis, including:

• Intravenous (IV) antibiotics to fight the infection
• Corticosteroids to reduce inflammation
• Drugs to increase blood pressure
• Insulin to stabilize blood sugar
• Pain relievers to help with discomfort

Severe sepsis may also require large amounts of IV fluids and a respirator for breathing.

In some patients dialysis might be necessary if their kidneys are affected. The kidneys help filter harmful wastes, salt, and excess water from the blood. With dialysis, a machine performs these functions.

In some cases, surgery may be needed to remove the source of an infection. This may include draining a pus-filled abscess or removing infected tissue.

Treatment options may vary slightly for older adults, depending on their risk factors. According to a review, older adults may be more sensitive to medications that increase blood pressure and antibiotics.

Older patients, in particular, may also need treatment to:

• Prevent pressure ulcers
• Control glucose levels
• Prevent deep vein thrombosis

Some severe cases of sepsis or septic shock do not respond to all disease-directed therapies. In these instances, healthcare professionals may need to provide end-of-life care.

Additionally, seniors are more likely to develop delirium in the ICU and should be regularly screened for sepsis symptoms.

Bay Biosciences is a global leader in providing researchers with high quality, clinical grade, fully characterized human tissue samples, bio-specimens, and human bio-fluid collections.

Samples available include cancer (tumor) tissue, cancer serum, cancer plasma, cancer, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). and human tissue samples from most other therapeutic areas and diseases.

Bay Biosciences maintains and manages its own biorepository, the human tissue bank (biobank) consisting of thousands of diseased samples (specimens) and from normal healthy donors available in all formats and types.

Our biobank procures and stores fully consented, deidentified and institutional review boards (IRB) approved human tissue samples and matched controls.

All our human tissue collections, human specimens and human bio-fluids are provided with detailed, samples associated patient’s clinical data.

This critical patient’s clinical data includes information relating to their past and current disease, treatment history, lifestyle choices, biomarkers, and genetic information.

Patient’s data is extremely valuable for researchers and is used to help identify new effective treatments (drug discovery & development) in oncology, and other therapeutic areas and diseases.

Bay Biosciences banks wide variety of human tissue samples and biological samples, including cryogenically preserved at – 80°C.

Including fresh frozen tissue samples, tumor tissue samples, formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE), tissue slides, with matching human bio-fluids, whole blood and blood-derived products such as serum, plasma and PBMC.

Bay Biosciences is a global leader in collecting and providing human tissue samples according to the specified requirements and customized, tailor-made collection protocols.

Please contact us anytime to discuss your special research projects and customized human tissue sample requirements.

Bay Biosciences provides human tissue samples (human specimens) from diseased and normal healthy donors which includes:

• Peripheral whole-blood
• Amniotic fluid
• Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BAL)
• Sputum
• Pleural effusion
• Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
• Serum (sera)
• Plasma
• Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC)
• Saliva
• Buffy coat
• Urine
• Stool samples
• Aqueous humor
• Vitreous humor
• Kidney stones (renal calculi)
• Other bodily fluids from most diseases including cancer.

We can also procure most human bio-specimens, special collections and requests for human samples that are difficult to find. All our human tissue samples are procured through IRB-approved clinical protocols and procedures.

In addition to the standard processing protocols, Bay Biosciences can also provide human plasma, serum, and PBMC bio-fluid samples using custom processing protocols; you buy donor-specific collections in higher volumes and specified sample aliquots from us.

Bay Biosciences also provides human samples from normal healthy donors; volunteers, for controls and clinical research, contact us Now.

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