Quickly Recognizing a Life-Threatening Infection

Careful assessment helps recognize life-threatening infection
You and an engine company arrive to a single family, two-story home. You're met at the door by a male in his late 20s. He says he called you after coming to check on his 58-year-old father after he missed their tee time. He found his father, Matt, lying in bed and unresponsive.
He leads you upstairs to his father's bedroom and tells you his mom died two years ago and Matt now lives by himself. He isn't aware of his dad having any significant medical history.
As you enter the bedroom you see Matt sleeping. His breathing is rapid and deep. His skin looks flushed from across the room. You approach the bedside calling his name. You shake his shoulder but receive no response. You gently apply pressure to his fingernail and he moans as he pulls his hand away.
Matt's skin is cool and clammy to the touch and his pulse is rapid, about 120 beats per minute. Your partner confirms a blood pressure (BP) of 96/42 mmHg. Auscultation of lung sounds reveals clear air movement on the left and crackles at the base of the right side. Pulse oximetry read 88% and a blood glucose finger stick reads 96 mg/dL. After administering oxygen via a non-rebreather mask, pulse oximetry reads 93%.
The remainder of the physical exam reveals a healthy appearing 58-year-old male in good shape with no obvious surgical scars. A quick assessment of the bedroom and adjacent bathroom reveals only a bottle of multivitamins for men. No other medications are ...

Source: JEMS Patient Care - October 30, 2017 Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Dennis Edgerly, EMT-P Tags: Patient Care Columns Source Type: news