Sepsis in Older Adults: Are We Up for the Challenge?
Recorded On: 01/14/2021
Description:
People of all ages develop sepsis, but older adults are disproportionally affected. Individuals over 65 years old, particularly those who have health issues, are more susceptible to sepsis than any other group. This webinar will discuss the incidence of sepsis in older adults and the physiologic aging process making seniors at higher risk to develop sepsis. Basic sepsis pathophysiology will be reviewed along with differentiation between sepsis and SIRS. Challenges of sepsis recognition and treatment considerations will be presented.
Learning Objectives:
At the end of the activity, the learner should be able to:
- Outline the epidemiology of sepsis in older adults, including the economic cost burden;
- Delineate the physiologic aging changes that might predispose older adults to sepsis;
- Discuss potential barriers to diagnosing sepsis in older adults;
- Define and differentiate between SIRS and sepsis;
- Review the basic pathophysiology of sepsis;
- Discuss the etiology of sepsis, including the primary sites in the older population and their treatment goals;
- Describe the mechanism of actions of specific drug therapies and their effectiveness in the older population;
- Restate how comorbidities can challenge the provider’s ability to treat the older patient with sepsis.
Target Audience:
Nurses, advanced practice providers, physicians, emergency responders, pharmacists, medical technologists, respiratory therapists, physical/occupational therapists, infection prevention specialists, data/quality specialists, and more.
June M. McKoy, MD, MPH, JD, MBA
Associate Professor of Medicine
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine and Geriatrics
June M. McKoy, MD, MPH, JD, MBA is a nationally known health services researcher and an Associate Professor of Medicine in the Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine and Geriatrics at Northwestern University Feinberg school of Medicine. She is board certified in Geriatric Medicine, having completed a Geriatric Medicine fellowship at Northwestern University McGaw Medical Center.
Theresa A. Rowe, DO, MS
Assistant Professor of Medicine
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine and Geriatrics
Theresa A. Rowe, DO, MS is an Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine and Geriatrics at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. She completed a Geriatric Medicine fellowship at Northwestern University McGaw Medical Center and an Infectious Disease Fellowship at Yale University, and is board certified in both specialties. She has extensive clinical and research experience in health care associated infections in long-term care settings, including management of sepsis in older adults.
Provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider Number CEP17068 for 1.8 contact hours.
Other healthcare professionals will receive a certificate of attendance for 1.5 contact hours.
Medical Disclaimer
The information on or available through this site is intended for educational purposes only. Sepsis Alliance does not represent or guarantee that information on or available through this site is applicable to any specific patient’s care or treatment. The educational content on or available through this site does not constitute medical advice from a physician and is not to be used as a substitute for treatment or advice from a practicing physician or other healthcare professional. Sepsis Alliance recommends users consult their physician or healthcare professional regarding any questions about whether the information on or available through this site might apply to their individual treatment or care.