As drug-resistant infections become more prevalent, so are cases of sepsis — a progressive disease process initiated by an aggressive, dysfunctional immune response to an infection in the bloodstream, which is why it’s sometimes referred to as blood poisoning. Unless caught and treated early, the condition can progress to septic shock, resulting in extremely low blood pressure, weakening of the heart, multiple organ failure and death.

An estimated 1 million Americans develop sepsis each year^1,2 and up to 50 percent die from the systemic infection.^3,4,5 While illnesses such as bronchitis, pneumonia, strep throat, kidney infection or even localized infections can turn septic, sepsis is most commonly acquired in hospital settings.^6,7 Unfortunately, conventional treatment often fails, as evidenced by the 50 percent mortality rate.

It’s also costly. According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, sepsis is the most expensive condition being treated in U.S. hospitals, racking up expenses in excess of $24 billion in 2014.⁸ There’s good news though. Recently, evidence for not just one but two different nondrug treatments have emerged, both of which show remarkable promise.

Read more…