How to prevent sepsis in Mozambican primary health care: a literature review

Abstract

INTRODUCTION Sepsis is a life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection and is worldwide one of the leading causes of infant mortality and the third most frequent direct cause of maternal mortality. Organised and systematic assessment is crucial to identify sepsis early, when signs and symptoms may still be very subtle, as this is when there are most opportunities for interventions. But the World Health Organization has already found that antimicrobial resistance of pathogens responsible for common infections is extremely high. OBJECTIVE To identify strategies and interventions to reduce the occurrence of sepsis in primary health care. METHOD Bibliographic review of references available at the Family and Community Medicine Resource Centre of the Medical Residencies Committee of the Faculty of Health Sciences of Lúrio University. Two keywords were used (septicaemia, sepsis) and 5 books and 62 articles were selected, 17 were excluded and 45 articles and 5 books were referred to. RESULTS The 50 reviewed publications show a long list of conditions and procedures at the origin of sepsis. Likewise, its signs, symptoms and complications are multiple and diverse, also depending on its cause. Reducing the occurrence of this pathology can be achieved with general, public health recommendations as well as specific measures aimed at controlling the different risk factors. CONCLUSION The incidence of sepsis has decreased, but it remains a major cause of maternal and neonatal death. There are effective public health measures to reduce its occurrence, which should be implemented by the National Health Service. Strict aseptic rules, a thorough and targeted anamnesis in risk groups, as well as a high level of quaternary prevention and health education for patients and families are recommended for the doctor.