Bhubaneswar, Oct. 31: Sepsis, a life-threatening medical emergency, is responsible for around 10 million deaths in the world annually but it can be countered with a simple practice—hand washing.
“Washing of hands, a practice which was widely followed during the pandemic, can reduce 95 per cent of infection,” Dr. Banambar Ray, Head of the Critical Care Medicine department at the SUM Ultimate Medicare here, said on Tuesday.
Speaking at the annual program of the Bhubaneswar chapter of the Indian Society of Critical Care Medicine (ISCCM) held at the Institute of Medical Sciences and SUM Hospital here, Dr. Ray said people should continue the practice of hand washing while attending to patients in hospital to reduce the possibility of sepsis.
“Though it had become a habit with the people during the pandemic, it is now being ignored,” he said.
White blood cells travel to an infection site to destroy the source of infection and prevent it from spreading. But an infection can spread to other parts of the body if the immune system is unable to fight it or the infection is severe which becomes fatal.
The theme of ISCCM this year is ‘Prevent Sepsis, Save Life’.
Dr. Ray was supported by Prof. (Dr.) Pusparaj Samantasinhar, Medical Superintendent of IMS and SUM Hospital, who described hand washing as the biggest impediment against infection.
Dr. Anand Mishra, Chairman of the Bhubaneswar branch of ISCCM and Deputy Medical Superintendent of SUM Ultimate Medicare, said October was observed as ISCCM month.
Dr. Mishra said there was need for spreading awareness about sepsis so that patients are quickly rushed to hospital for medical attention. He said that such infection can affect people of all ages.
Dr. Biswabikash Mohanty and Dr. Samir Samal, Secretary and Treasurer respectively of Bhubaneswar branch of ISCCM, also addressed the meeting.