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Blood poisoning can result from a wound.
But there are also other possibilities for sepsis
Photo: imago images / imago stock & people
Every year around 95,000 people in Germany die of blood poisoning.
With currently just over 300,000 cases, around every third sepsis ends fatally, as the editorial network Germany reports, citing a response from the Ministry of Health to a left-wing inquiry.
The occasion is World Sepsis Day on this Sunday.
The figures are already known, the authority did not name any more recent.
But the government admitted, according to the report, that the mortality rate from sepsis is higher in Germany than in other industrialized countries.
In 2017, an alliance of those affected, specialist societies and experts stated, according to the RND, that the death rate in Germany is 10 to 20 percent higher than in the USA, Great Britain or Australia.
Left-wing health politician Pia Zimmermann criticized the ministry for refusing to "take the first simple steps to reduce sepsis mortality".
Other countries like Australia, the USA and England are further here.
Health Minister Jens Spahn (CDU) was breaking his oath of office to avert harm to the population, she told the newspaper.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), around eleven million people die of sepsis every year, including almost three million children.
The syndrome, which used to be known simply as blood poisoning, often develops in hospital.
In addition, experts assume a high number of unreported cases.
Pneumonia, for example, is often given as the cause of death, although the actual cause of death is Sepis, complained the Sepsis Foundation.
That is why more information about sepsis must be provided, the foundation demands - also among doctors and nursing staff.
At the end there is multiple organ failure
Sepsis cannot only be triggered by a blood infection resulting from an external injury, in which bacteria, viruses, fungi and other microorganisms enter the bloodstream.
Lung or tropical diseases can also result in blood poisoning.
If the immune system then overreacts, this can lead to multiple organ failure and thus death.
That can happen very quickly, so doctors have to act quickly.
In addition to extreme malaise, difficult breathing, confusion and high fever, signs of sepsis are discolored skin, for example black discolored fingertips.
Chills and drowsiness are also possible symptoms.
According to the WHO, anyone who suffers from a bad form of Covid-19 has a higher risk of developing sepsis.
Even those who survive it must expect lifelong consequences.
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joe / dpa