ABC-Sepsis Neuro: Understanding brain injury secondary to sepsis

Summary

Patients who experience severe infection, including sepsis, frequently experience problems with brain function. In the Emergency Department, this might be in the form of confusion or coma. Even as the underlying sepsis resolves, many are left with ongoing problems including with thinking, concentration, and fatigue. These may be pervasive and prevent or delay complete recovery; even when mild they form a large part of the burden suffered by patients with sepsis. Compared with other types of brain injury, relatively little is known about the type seen in sepsis. Certain blood markers have been shown to predict severity of brain injury when caused by traumatic injury.

We will test blood samples from patients presenting to Emergency Departments with suspected sepsis to see if these markers are high. If raised, indicating brain injury, it may help us understand how this occurs, how to predict it, and possible treatment options.