What Is Sepsis in Nursing Homes?
Sepsis, sometimes referred to as blood poisoning, is a life-threatening condition caused by the body’s intense response to an infection.
This emergency occurs when an infection triggers a chain reaction in the body, potentially leading to organ failure, tissue damage, and even death without prompt treatment.
Sepsis in nursing homes may be a sign of neglect, as it often results from untreated infections and poor hygiene practices.
Severe cases of sepsis have a death rate of up to 50%. As a result, immediate diagnosis and treatment are critical.
“People don’t go to a nursing home so they can get sepsis and die. That is what is happening a lot.”
— Dr. Steven Simpson, Professor of Medicine, University of Kansas
Sepsis is not contagious — but the infections that cause sepsis may be. Therefore, it’s critical for nursing homes to take proper measures to prevent the spread of infections.
If your family was affected by sepsis in nursing homes, you may be entitled to compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering, and more.
Get a free case review right now to see if you could be eligible.
Fight back against nursing home abuse and neglect — start now with a free case review.
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Nursing Home Sepsis Lawsuit
A nursing home sepsis lawsuit holds facilities accountable when negligence leads to serious harm or death. Nursing home lawsuits can provide families with justice, financial compensation, and a sense of closure after preventable tragedies.
An Illinois family secured $500,000 after a 69-year-old resident died from sepsis in nursing homes caused by bedsores.
Additionally, in October 2024, a family filed an Ohio nursing home lawsuit against Arbors at Oregon after their 72-year-old mother died from a pressure wound that resulted in sepsis.
The lawsuit claimed nursing home neglect — including failure to prevent or treat the wound, leaving her in soiled diapers, and delaying medical care — ultimately resulting in her death.
Many families work with nursing home abuse lawyers to file lawsuits for neglect, including cases involving sepsis. These lawyers specialize in proving how inadequate care directly contributed to harm.
Most nursing home lawsuits end in settlements, but some may go to trial, where a judge or jury decides the case. A skilled lawyer will handle all the legal work, allowing you to focus on your loved one.
When you work with an experienced lawyer, it can make the legal process easier. They can build a strong case, prove that sepsis in nursing homes could have been prevented, and fight for the money your family deserves.
Call (855) 264-6310 right now or Click to Live Chat with our patient advocates and learn if you can connect with a leading nursing home lawyer near you.
Who Is Most at Risk of Developing Sepsis in Nursing Homes?
There are several factors that increase the likelihood of someone developing sepsis in nursing homes. However, age is the biggest risk factor, with older adults being five times more likely to develop severe sepsis.
Risk factors for sepsis in nursing homes include:
- Age (being 65 years or older)
- Chronic kidney or liver disease
- Compromised immune system
- Diabetes, particularly when poorly managed
- Invasive devices, like catheters and breathing tubes
- Long hospital stays
- Previous antibiotic or corticosteroid use
Nursing home residents may have several of these risk factors working against them. For example, when old age is coupled with a weakened immune system, sepsis in nursing homes becomes a significant concern.
Unfortunately, nursing home residents are seven times more likely than non-nursing home residents to develop severe sepsis, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
“Older adults, and particularly nursing home residents, have a disproportionately high incidence of and morbidity from severe sepsis.”
— National Institutes of Health (NIH)
What Causes Sepsis in Nursing Homes?
Sepsis in nursing homes is caused by several factors. Most cases begin with bacterial infections. However, sepsis in nursing homes can also arise from viral, fungal, or other types of infections. This includes complications from influenza (the flu).
Infections that most often lead to sepsis are those that start in the:
- Gastrointestinal tract
- Lungs
- Skin
- Urinary tract
Immediate diagnosis and treatment are critical to improving outcomes. Learn more about what factors cause sepsis in nursing homes below.
Common Infections That Cause Sepsis in Nursing Homes
One of the biggest contributors is the number of people who come and go, including visitors and staff. Each person who enters a nursing home comes from a different place and brings with them whatever germs they’ve been exposed to elsewhere.
This makes it easier for germs to spread, causing nursing home infections.
Some common sources of infection that can lead to sepsis in nursing homes include:
- Clostridioides difficile (C. diff): A bacterium that causes severe diarrhea and inflammation of the colon (colitis)
- Escherichia coli (E. coli): A bacterium that can cause serious infections, including urinary tract infections and bloodstream infections
- Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA): A type of staph bacterium resistant to many antibiotics, often leading to skin infections or more severe infections
- Staphylococcus aureus (Staph): A common bacterium that can cause skin infections, pneumonia, and bloodstream infections
- Streptococcus (Strep): Bacteria that can cause a range of illnesses, including strep throat, skin infections, and sepsis
- Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE): Normally lives in the body but can become resistant to vancomycin, an antibiotic used to treat severe infections
Additionally, it’s unfortunately common for nursing home residents to be transported to and from the hospital.
Hospital transfers put patients at risk for developing healthcare-acquired infections (HAIs) that they can bring back into the assisted living facility.
These infections can then spread to other residents and lead to sepsis in nursing homes.
Sepsis Can Be a Sign of Nursing Home Neglect
Since it is often treatable, severe cases of sepsis in nursing homes can be a sign of neglect. Sadly, nursing home neglect and sepsis often go hand in hand.
Nursing home residents should be monitored regularly for any signs of infection. If sepsis develops, it could mean that an infection was overlooked by nursing home staff members and, therefore, not properly treated.
A resident at Hunter Woods Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Charlotte, NC, developed sepsis from an untreated wound, leading to hospitalization and death.
Elder abuse and neglect in nursing homes may involve poor hygiene, bedsores, malnutrition, and staff failing to address medical needs.
Common signs of a bad nursing home include unclean facilities, unanswered call lights, and frequent complaints of poor care from residents or families.
If you or a loved one developed sepsis in a nursing home, you may be able to take legal action.
Get a free case review right now to see if you could be eligible.
Fight back against nursing home abuse and neglect — start now with a free case review.
Start My Free Case Reviewor call (855) 264-6310Risk Factors for Sepsis in Nursing Homes
Nursing home residents are at increased risk for bedsores. Since bedsores frequently cause breaks in the skin, they can become infected at any time.
Local skin infections like cellulitis and bone infections like osteomyelitis can rapidly develop into sepsis. In fact, bedsores are one of the most common sources of infection leading to sepsis in nursing homes.
Infections that may be likely to result in sepsis include:
- Digestive system infections
- Infections in the bloodstream
- Kidney, bladder, and urinary tract infections
- Lung infections, such as pneumonia
Nursing home residents may also be at risk of sepsis if they have catheters, ventilator tubes, or IVs. Each of these requires openings in the body, which can allow germs to enter and infections to start.
Sepsis Symptoms in Nursing Homes
Symptoms of sepsis in nursing homes may look like those of many other medical conditions. Sepsis is, therefore, easy to overlook and can be tricky to diagnose.
Since sepsis symptoms in elderly patients develop rapidly, it is critical to know the signs. Although most people can recover from mild cases, as it worsens, sepsis can lead to death.
This is especially true in the elderly population. Septic symptoms in elderly individuals often include fever, confusion, rapid breathing, and low blood pressure.
Learn more about the symptoms of sepsis in nursing homes below.
What Are the Early Warning Signs of Sepsis?
A person with sepsis will rapidly become ill and may also experience a number of other symptoms that must be monitored.
Common warning signs of sepsis in nursing homes include:
- Change in mental status
- Cool hands and feet
- Extreme pain or discomfort
- High fever
- Lethargy, anxiety, confusion, or agitation
- Loss of interest in food
- Nausea and vomiting
- Rapid heart rate
- Sensitivity to light
Symptoms of sepsis in nursing homes can vary. For example, signs of sepsis from a UTI in elderly patients include confusion and decreased urine output.
Sepsis Rash
Another warning sign of sepsis in nursing homes is sepsis rash, a cluster of tiny spots that look like pin pricks but don’t fade when pressed on. With sepsis rash, the skin may also feel cold or clammy, even if the person has a high temperature.
If sepsis rash is not treated, it will get bigger and begin to look like bruising. As it continues to worsen, the discoloration may join together and form large areas of damaged purple skin.
If your loved one is showing warning signs of sepsis, get medical help without delay. Sepsis in nursing homes can be deadly and should be taken very seriously.
Once your loved one is safe, consider taking legal action to hold the facility accountable. By filing a lawsuit, your family can pursue justice and help prevent similar harm to other residents by exposing ongoing issues.
Get a free case review right now to see if we can help you get started.
Fight back against nursing home abuse and neglect — start now with a free case review.
Start My Free Case Reviewor call (855) 264-6310What Are the 3 Stages of Sepsis?
Sepsis in nursing homes generally progresses in three stages: sepsis, severe sepsis, and septic shock. As sepsis gets worse, blood flow to the vital organs becomes increasingly impaired. It may also cause blood clots that could burst.
Since sepsis develops quickly, it is critical to seek immediate medical care. The earlier sepsis is treated, the greater the chance of survival.
Stage 1: Sepsis
The first stage of sepsis can usually be treated if caught early.
Early-stage sepsis can be diagnosed with:
- Breathing rate greater than 20 breaths per minute
- Confirmed or suspected infection
- Fever above 101ºF or a temperature below 96.8ºF
- Heart rate greater than 90 beats per minute
At least two of the symptoms above must be present for a doctor to diagnose sepsis.
Stage 2: Severe Sepsis
Stage 1 sepsis that is not successfully treated may quickly develop into severe sepsis, or stage 2 sepsis. Severe sepsis damages the organs from the body’s inflammatory response to infection.
Severe sepsis can affect any organ, including the heart, brain, lungs, kidneys, and liver. The symptoms that a patient experiences are based on which organ is affected.
Severe sepsis causes roughly 750,000 hospitalizations and 215,000 deaths each year in the United States.
Stage 3: Septic Shock
Septic shock may develop if the earlier stages are not properly treated. This third stage occurs when there is an alarming drop in the patient’s blood pressure. Nursing home residents who develop septic shock are at a very high risk of death.
Signs that sepsis is progressing into septic shock include:
- Having high levels of lactic acid in the blood
- Needing medication to maintain a safe blood pressure
As sepsis worsens, it can reduce blood flow to vital organs, leading to organ failure. While septic shock can be treated, it has a mortality rate of up to 50%. Additionally, survivors may face a higher risk of future infections and other health complications.
If your family was impacted by sepsis in nursing homes, we may be able to connect you with a skilled attorney who can fight for justice and compensation on your behalf.
Find out right now with a free case review.
Fight back against nursing home abuse and neglect — start now with a free case review.
Start My Free Case Reviewor call (855) 264-6310Death From Sepsis in Nursing Homes
Sadly, death from sepsis in the elderly is very common. Elderly patients with severe sepsis are up to 1.5 times more likely to die than younger patients.
“No one tracks sepsis cases closely enough to know how often these severe infections turn fatal. But the toll — both human and financial — is enormous.”
— Kaiser Health News
Sepsis Survival Rate by Age
The following chart containing data from the NIH shows the unfortunate reality of sepsis in nursing homes. According to the data, almost 50% of nursing home residents who developed sepsis died from it while being treated in a hospital.
| Age | % Hospital Death | % Discharged Alive | % ICU Admission | % Non-ICU Admission |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18-44 | 5% | 18% | 4.3% | 14% |
| 45-64 | 24% | 28% | 32% | 25% |
| 65-79 | 31% | 28% | 32% | 32% |
| ≥80 | 39% | 26% | 28% | 29% |
| Nursing home resident | 48% | 20% | 39% | 21% |
Nursing Home Wrongful Death From Sepsis
Nursing home neglect and sepsis can tragically — and all too frequently — lead to death. Because of this, sepsis in nursing homes that leads to death may be considered wrongful death by state or federal law.
Nursing home wrongful death cases may occur if staff members:
- Fail to manage stage 4 bedsores that progress to sepsis
- Ignore infections before they lead to sepsis
- Neglect residents’ essential health care needs
Families who have lost loved ones to this type of nursing home negligence may be able to pursue compensation through legal action. While it will not bring loved ones back, this compensation can be used for funeral costs and other expenses.
For example, a Kansas family filed a wrongful death sepsis lawsuit claiming their 78-year-old father died from sepsis and respiratory failure after negligent care at The Healthcare Resort of Kansas City.
The resident, who was a stroke survivor, died three months after he was admitted from severe malnutrition and an untreated toe wound that led to sepsis.
If you lost a loved one to sepsis in a nursing home, consider filing a nursing home wrongful death lawsuit to seek justice on their behalf.
Get started right now.
How Is Sepsis Diagnosed?
Health care providers diagnose sepsis by looking for physical symptoms such as low blood pressure, fever, and increased heart and breathing rates. Lab tests to look for signs of infection and organ damage may also be performed.
Since getting a nursing diagnosis for sepsis can be lifesaving, consult a doctor for any infection or wound that has not responded to treatment.
Treating Sepsis
Health care providers treat sepsis based on factors such as age, overall health, and medical history. Since sepsis is a life-threatening emergency, people with confirmed sepsis are hospitalized and treated immediately.
Treatment options for sepsis may include:
- Antibiotics
- Managing blood flow to organs
- Oxygen and IV (intravenous) fluids
- Treating the source of the infection
Sepsis recovery time in elderly patients can range from weeks to months, depending on the severity and any lasting organ damage.
Some people with sepsis may need to be put on a ventilator for breathing or receive kidney dialysis. In some cases, surgery is used to remove tissue that was badly damaged by the infection.
Preventing Sepsis in Nursing Homes
Preventing sepsis in long-term care facilities must be taken very seriously since it can be deadly for residents.
Infection control is the best way to reduce the risk of infection and sepsis in this vulnerable population. Having a sepsis protocol for nursing homes is essential to keep residents safe.
Sepsis Protocol for Nursing Homes
Preventing sepsis in nursing homes requires careful practices by both staff and visitors.
Nursing home staff should:
- Clean rooms and objects properly
- Isolate residents who show signs of illness
- Observe isolation protocol when necessary (masks, gloves, and/or gowns)
- Wash hands before moving from one resident to the next when providing care
Family members and visitors should:
- Not visit if they’re sick, even if it’s “just a cold”
- Receive appropriate vaccinations
- Report any signs of illness, open wounds, or infection to the staff
- Wash their hands upon entering the nursing home
In addition to taking proper infection prevention measures, sepsis in nursing homes can be prevented by careful monitoring for symptoms.
Knowing and watching for the earliest signs of sepsis in nursing homes can save a loved one’s life.
Take Legal Action for Sepsis in Nursing Homes
Your loved one should never have experienced sepsis in a nursing home. It is the responsibility of the facility and its staff to take every precaution to protect residents. When they fail to uphold this duty, you may have the right to pursue a legal claim to hold them accountable.
No family should endure the pain of knowing their loved one suffered due to nursing home negligence. An elderly sepsis law firm helps families seek justice and compensation when nursing home negligence leads to severe infections.
Our network of experienced personal injury lawyers can help families in all 50 states. They have recovered over $304 million for families, including payouts from sepsis in nursing homes.
Call the Nursing Home Abuse Center at (855) 264-6310 right now or get a free case review to see if we can help your family.
Sepsis in Nursing Homes FAQs
What is a sepsis infection?
There is no such thing as a sepsis infection, but rather an existing infection that was caused by any number of common germs that develop into sepsis if it’s not properly treated.
Sepsis is life-threatening and should be considered a medical emergency. Without immediate treatment, sepsis can quickly lead to organ failure, tissue damage, and even death.
How long can you live with sepsis untreated?
Without treatment, sepsis can lead to death within days, depending on the severity and the patient’s underlying health conditions.
How long can sepsis last before death?
Sepsis can progress quickly, often within hours or days, if not treated promptly. Without timely medical intervention, it can lead to septic shock and organ failure, resulting in death.
What is the red flag of sepsis?
Warning signs of sepsis require immediate attention.
These are 5 red flags of sepsis:
- High or low body temperature
- Rapid heart rate
- Confusion or disorientation
- Extreme weakness or fatigue
- Signs of infection, such as redness, swelling, or pus
In advanced cases, sepsis may also cause low blood pressure and difficulty breathing. Recognizing these symptoms early can save lives.
How common is sepsis in nursing homes?
Sepsis is a significant concern in nursing homes due to factors like untreated infections, pressure sores, and poor hygiene. Sepsis in nursing homes is one of the leading reasons for residents being hospitalized.
Can a person recover from being septic?
Yes, with early detection and prompt treatment, many people recover from sepsis. However, recovery can be complicated, and severe cases may result in long-term health issues or organ damage.
Can sepsis be caused by bedsores?
Yes, since the stages of bedsores (pressure ulcers) progress into open wounds as they worsen, they can very easily get infected. Infected bedsores can quickly develop into sepsis.
Is sepsis contagious?
No, you can’t spread sepsis to other people. However, the infections that lead to sepsis can be contagious.
Since nursing homes bring large groups of older people together under one roof, infections can quickly spread if the staff doesn’t properly address them, increasing the risk that more residents will also develop sepsis.
Is sepsis nursing home neglect?
Sepsis can be a result of nursing home neglect if it stems from preventable issues like untreated infections, pressure sores, or poor infection control.
If you or a loved one developed sepsis in a nursing home, the Nursing Home Abuse Center may be able to help.
Call us at (855) 264-6310 right now.
Can you sue a nursing home for sepsis?
Yes, if sepsis occurs due to neglect or inadequate care, such as failing to monitor and treat infections, you can sue the nursing home for damages, including medical costs, pain and suffering, or wrongful death.
If your loved one passed away due to sepsis in nursing homes, we may be able to help you file a lawsuit.
Take the first steps right now with a free case review.
