International Healthcare: Sepsis, Issues, and Sustainable Development

This report delves into the multifaceted challenges of sepsis within the context of international healthcare. It begins by defining sepsis, outlining its causes, severity, and global prevalence, and then explores the issues and debates surrounding the definitions and dimensions of health in relation to sepsis, including the impact on morbidity. The report then considers various approaches and frameworks, particularly the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in relation to sepsis management. It discusses the influence of international, economic, environmental, and political factors on the prevalence and management of sepsis, including a comparative analysis of sepsis prevalence between a developing country and the UK. The report also critically examines the strengths and limitations of the "Universal prevention, diagnosis & management of Sepsis" initiative proposed by WHO and its alignment with the SDGs. Overall, the report offers a comprehensive analysis of sepsis as a critical global health issue, highlighting the complex interplay of various factors influencing its prevalence, management, and impact.

Social Political and
Environmental Issues in
International Healthcare

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
A) Describe some of the issues and debates surrounding definitions and dimensions of health
in relation to Sepsis which can cause significant morbidity...................................................1
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................4
Consider Approaches or frameworks to health and sustainable development goals (SDG’s) in
relation to sepsis.....................................................................................................................4
1. Discuss how international, economic, environmental and political issues may impact on the
prevalence and management of Sepsis...................................................................................4
2. Assess the prevalence of Sepsis in one developing country and compare with the
prevalence of Sepsis in the UK..............................................................................................6
3. It is suggested that there is a need for “Universal prevention, diagnosis & management of
Sepsis” (WHO, 2019). Discuss the strengths/limitations of this and how it would link with
current Sustainable Development Goals................................................................................7
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................8
REFLECTION.................................................................................................................................8
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................9

INTRODUCTION
Sepsis refers to a condition when chemicals were released into blood stream to fight infection
trigger inflammation in the whole body of an individual. It can be considered as a life threatening
complication related to an infection including number of symptoms. Basically, it indicates
several signs such as difficulty breathing, low blood pressure, fast heart rate, mental confusion
and fever. It is necessary to consult immediately with a registered physician to gain appropriate
treatment to avoid relevant complications and become disease free (Cavicchi, 2017). However, it
has been analysed that some of microbes are responsible for causing sepsis like bacteria, fungi,
and viruses but it cause mostly by bacteria. It is observed that severe cases of sepsis usually
result from a body wide infection which spreads via the blood stream. In context of this project,
it is based on the topic of sepsis and relevant various kinds of aspects in order to enhance health
status of population living in the country. This assignment will focus on dimensions of health in
relation to sepsis causing significant morbidity. It will also include management of sepsis by
considering economic, environmental and political issues. The prevalence of sepsis in specific
nation and its comparison with another country is given below.
TASK 1
A) Describe some of the issues and debates surrounding definitions and dimensions of health in
relation to Sepsis which can cause significant morbidity.
Sepsis can be defined as a condition which is caused by infection and it can happen to anyone. it
can be considered as a condition which is mostly observed among older adults, pregnant women,
children younger than 1, people having chronic conditions and individuals having weakened
immune systems. The sepsis has different types of sepsis including change in mental status,
abnormal blood pressure and respiratory rate become high than or equal to 22 breaths per minute.
However, the problem of sepsis has number of causes such as bacteria, parasites, viruses and
fungi in which bacteria are mostly responsible to develop the sepsis between people (Hussain
and et. al., 2018). It includes the condition of septic shock which has few of signs like need of
medication to maintain appropriate blood pressure ad high amount of lactic acid into blood
stream of human being.
Severity of sepsis includes the complicated situation for an individual which can be evaluated by
examining number of symptoms. It includes severe signs such as reduced urination, changes in
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mental ability, low platelet, problems breathing, abnormal heart functions, chills due to fall in
temperature of the body, unconsciousness, extreme weakness and patches of discoloured skin.
However, it has been analysed that sepsis can be considered as a life-threatening problem when
it acquire extreme level of complicated situation. It is known to be life threatening issue because
it is caused by response of body to an infection. Meanwhile, it is observed that immune system
has function to protect body from different disease and infections but it is also possible for it to
go to overdrive in response of an infection (Van Wynsberghe, 2016).
Prevalence of sepsis globally includes that this condition raises body response to infection leads
to death or significant morbidity. It has been analysed that there is an epidemiological burden of
sepsis is difficult to ascertain at global level. However, the prevalence of sepsis has been
estimated around more than 30 million every year at global context. It involves the condition that
approximately 6 million deaths occurs due to sepsis globally due to which it has most likely
highest in low and middle income nations.
Meaning of health in relation to sepsis includes early identification of this problem to gain
immediate treatment to improve health status. Sepsis is known as life threatening condition that
has mild to severe stages then it is necessary to remain aware about early symptoms to consult
with doctor for healing the problem. Positive health can be defined as a condition in which a
person remains complete physical, mental and social wellbeing. It includes the situation when
patient has overcome from the problem of sepsis and they have complete wellbeing status in
overall health aspects (Visconti, Doś and Gurgun, 2017). However, it has been analysed that
positive health will not considered the status of absence of health problem then people should
remain careful about maintenance of their better health. Negative health refers to status in which
a person is capable to perform physically, mentally and socially that requires to be done. It
includes the situation when human body is not able to carry out any kind of physical work and
cannot think or remain confused is known to negative health.
Health as normality consist the condition of behavioural normality to mental state of an
individual aligning with the model of healthy patient. It includes the situation of not having any
kind of mental problems then they can be known as normal patient. However, it is observed that
health as normality is all about when people can perform physical and mentally functions in
normal manner. Health as deviance can be defined as condition of human being is the renegade
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act of being energised, radiant and resilient. It involves the way of thinking and adopting healthy
cultures or habits in order to become or remain healthy.
Functional definition of health can be described as capability of people to perform their regular
activities in proper manner. It includes various activities including bathing dressing, grooming,
toileting, cooking, feeding and so on. It involves the condition of individual of being able to
carry out performing required activities of their daily living. Biomedical definition of health
refers to overall wellbeing of people by considering their biological factors along with excluding
the other components like environmental, social & psychological. It includes the wellness related
to biological factor of genetic elements to make sure about biomedical health of an individual
(Mmereki and et. al., 2017).
Impact of sepsis on health includes its life-threatening effect on human body because it is
known to be a problem that has arrange from mild to severe. It includes the fact that high rate of
recovery is applicable in case of mild sepsis among patients. Meanwhile, the septic shock is
responsible for having close to 50% mortality rate because it is most severe condition for patient.
It involves the negative impact on human body that severe stage of sepsis has increase the risk of
future infection.
Dimension of health includes physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual and social related to the
condition of sepsis. It includes the ability of a patient to perform physical activities and think
effectively to make appropriate decisions. Meanwhile, it consist emotionally stable and
spiritually wellbeing which make a person able to remain in more comfortable way. It involves
the social connection of an individual to remain active socially and meet with people in society
that also an important dimension of better health condition. According to the WHO, health
refers to state of complete physical, mental, and social wellbeing which is market not only by the
absence of disease or infirmity (Lupo, 2016). WHO states that sepsis raise when the response of
body to any infection injures its own tissues as well as organs. If this condition will not recognise
earlier or managed effectively then it can leads to septic shock, multiple organ failure or death.
Determinants of health consist number of factors influencing it such as culture, gender, health
services, biology & genetic endowment, healthy child development, personal health practices &
coping skills, physical atmosphere, social environment, employment or working conditions,
education & literacy, social support networks and income & social status. Health belief model
refers to understand health related behaviour while providing care facilities to then by effort o
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medical practitioners, it is very important to consider several factors of health belief model such
as perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, perceived benefits and perceived barriers.
TASK 2
Consider Approaches or frameworks to health and sustainable development goals (SDG’s) in
relation to sepsis.
1. Discuss how international, economic, environmental and political issues may impact on the
prevalence and management of Sepsis
International issues refer to problem that occurs in different countries which is responsible for
affecting the health condition of people by occurrence of sepsis. It includes the problem that
people are not much aware about the problem of sepsis and they cannot recognise its symptoms
earlier due to which many of them leads to death (Nelson and Staggers, 2016). However, the
problem of sepsis is burden on global level which is difficult to be ascertained but is required to
promote awareness among population of the country.
Economic issues can defined as financial problem among countries due to which they are not
capable to make availability of sufficient services to get rid off sepsis. It is necessary for nation
to begin manufacturing of desired medicines and other treatment sources so that they can
medical facilities related to sepsis easily. The manufacturing of medicines is cheap as compared
to importing medications from other countries. It will develop economic issue for government to
improve efficiency of entire healthcare system to reduce burden of sepsis and relevant death
rates.
Environmental issues refer to the condition of developing various harmful microorganisms due
to having lack of cleanliness in the surroundings. It is observed that sepsis is cause by microbes
including bacteria, fungi and virus which are required to be eliminated from the atmosphere by
cleaning it (Bonnes, 2017). However, these environmental factors impact negatively to develop
sepsis frequently due to which management of this disease get interrupted because burden of
sepsis patients is not easy to be deal by available medical staff.
Political issues includes the problem develops dye to actions taken by government and political
parties of specific area. It consist the fact that government is required to put efforts to promote
about precautions which impact more effectively on mind set of common public to take desired
precautions. This step will facilitate to reduce prevalence of occurring sepsis among citizens.
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Meanwhile, government should put efforts to make healthcare system of country strong by
making availability of sufficient staff, resources and technology so that desired care services can
be delivered by managing problem of sepsis among individuals.
Prevalence and management of sepsis includes that fact that there is burden of sepsis deaths
globally which is required to be focused and controlled. The management of sepsis includes use
of medications and blood pressure support drugs to improve the condition. However, it includes
the diagnosis of sepsis by carry out blood tests, urine test, wound secretions, respiratory
secretions, X-ray, computerised tomography, ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging to
analyse the actual situation (Naumann, 2018). Meanwhile, the treatment methods include
antibiotics, intravenous fluids and vasopressors along with additional supportive care. The severe
condition of sepsis requires surgical method to heal the same.
Poverty is an important factor that should be focussed by government eliminates the same and
makes free services available for them to recover from sepsis. Health inequity includes the
differences of health condition among people and inappropriate distribution of resources are
responsible for affecting the management of given health problem among population. Low
awareness between citizens about sepsis increases their risk of acquiring this health issue.
Under resourced Public Health and Acute health care delivery systems can be considered as
threat to reduce prevalence of sepsis and its management. However, the accurate identification
and quantification of Sepsis cases plays an important role to evaluate the extent of making
availability of health staff and services to manage this disease. The Limited access to
healthcare develop the problem in managing the same for which effective efforts should be put
by government to make sure easy access to health services for healing sepsis.
Health system challenges such as surgical capacity impact negatively on treatment procedure as
well as clinical procedure that increase prevalence of sepsis and interrupt its management.
Meanwhile, the Critical care capacity plays an important role reduce cases of sepsis and
medical staff can easily deal with limited cases to make people disease free (Freeman and et. al.,
2016). In addition to this, the Antimicrobial resistance and availability of medication free
vaccination programmes to improve the internal strength of people to avoid attack of microbes
which facilitate occurrence of
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Population health is helpful to increase their immune strength which facilitates to avoid the
problem of occurring sepsis. It includes the fact appropriate health condition is favourable to
easily recover from the selected disease respectively.
2. Assess the prevalence of Sepsis in one developing country and compare with the prevalence of
Sepsis in the UK
The prevalence of sepsis is required to evaluate in order to take effective efforts to reduce the
occurrence of this problem which helps to improve health of entire population. It is necessary for
different countries to estimate the prevalence of sepsis so that appropriate treatment can make to
be available in sufficient quantity for enhancing recover arte of people. However, the estimating
prevalence of given disease encourage government to promote the healthy living and maintain
clean environment free from microbes among citizens that helps to reduce burden of sepsis
(Cavalieri, Guccio and Rizzo, 2017). It includes making people aware about relevant precautions
along with motivating them to adopt healthy lifestyle for remaining disease free. Thus, the
comparative study between United Kingdom and Nigeria about prevalence of sepsis problem is
explained here.
In context of Nigeria, it has been analysed that neonatal sepsis is mostly observed in this country
which is responsible for several complications. It includes the fact that neonatal sepsis cases have
range of 39.5 to 51.3 per 1000 live births. Basically, it can be considered as most complicated
condition in case of new-borns. It is observed that approximately seven millions of yearly births
take place in Nigeria because of their infection of sepsis. It includes that around 276000 to
359100 kids may suffer from neonatal sepsis with 420 of these probable attributable to GBS. The
cause of occurrence of sepsis among babies is Group B streptococcus (GBS) which is
responsible for causing severe complications including pre-labour rupturing of membranes,
preterm delivery and stillbirths. Nigeria is known as one of the highest birth rate and sepsis
neonatal cases country (Di Chiro, 2016). However, the availability of healthcare services in the
country includes availability of antibiotic therapy which is provided to patients suffering from
sepsis. It includes the availability of cefuroxime and gentamicin that is used with combination of
antibiotic therapy in order to the problem of sepsis.
Considering the condition of United Kingdom, it has been evaluated that around 123000 cases
of sepsis occurred in England annually which results into 36900 deaths in country. It includes the
fact that overall 70% of sepsis cases raise in community. Meanwhile, it has been analysed that
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people who survive with sepsis, they have acquire number of physical and mental health issues
including past traumatic stress disorder, cognitive problems, chronic pain and organ dysfunction.
It involves the fact that sepsis becomes major health problem which occurs among people and
has high death rates as well. However, the availability of services is sufficient in UK including
resources and staff members to deal with the selected problem. It is observed that management is
not proper about health services due to which death rate related to sepsis is higher in the nation.
Moreover, the lack of awareness between citizens is responsible to increases in cases of sepsis
that requires promoting knowledge to people and relevant precautions should be informed for
reducing prevalence of sepsis.
3. It is suggested that there is a need for “Universal prevention, diagnosis & management of
Sepsis” (WHO, 2019). Discuss the strengths/limitations of this and how it would link with
current Sustainable Development Goals
The prevalence of sepsis is considered as burden in global context which is required to be
prevented. It includes the need of globally taking step for prevention and sepsis among the
nations. Basically, it has been analysed that the approach of universal prevention, diagnosis and
management of sepsis at global level is required to be applied. This approach has strength of
facilitating global effort in order to reduce the occurrence of sepsis in respect of eliminating this
threat effectively. It includes that prevention; diagnosing and management of sepsis should be
focussed combine which impact positively to observed positive outcomes very soon (Nettle,
2016). However, World Health organisation plays an important role to encourage all the
countries to focus in problem of sepsis and motivate to take different measures in regards to
retention, diagnosis and management. It includes role of the WHO in terms of improving the
prevention, diagnosis, and clinical management of Sepsis for reducing the prevalence of sepsis at
international level.
The Global Action Plan on antimicrobial resistance includes applying several efficient
strategies in global context. It includes to improve awareness among people, make citizens
understand about antimicrobial resistance, strengthen knowledge via surveillance &
investigation, optimal utilisation of antimicrobial agents and many more. However, it has been
evaluated that WHO should apply different strategies and relevant practices in various countries
accordingly which facilitate to have global efforts for eliminating threat of sepsis. There are
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number of factors that are required to be considered while implementing approach of prevention,
diagnosis and treatment in which some of them are mentioned here.
Health inequality refers to partial behaviour of health professional administration for few of
discriminated communities. It will impact negatively on their health condition because they have
to wait for more duration of time than usual which develops risk of complications for them.
However, doctors do not treat them properly and behaviour is inappropriate due to which patient
do not clear their doubts related to their health which results into improper patient outcomes. The
factor of inequality is required to strictly eliminate for removing threat of sepsis or any other
diseases. Meanwhile, Poverty reduction & development is must in countries to improve health
condition in relation to sepsis. It includes Absolute poverty, Social exclusion and Health
inequalities & health equity should be focused to deliver appropriate services and increase
awareness regarding precautions to eliminate sepsis globally.
CONCLUSION
The above assignment has been concluded that effective use of diagnosis and treatment
regarding sepsis is necessary to reduce relevant death rates at global level. It is necessary for all
the nations globally to efforts together for making proper availability of services for treating
sepsis along with providing information to prevent the same.
REFLECTION
Considering my project, I have analysed that responsible global citizenship includes performing
actively to understand the global issue along with taking proper actions to solve them. It requires
putting efforts for contribution to sort out problem developed at global level. However, sepsis is
a global issue than every responsible global citizen has a duty to understand the severity and
follow the guidelines provided for government to overcome with this threat. Moreover, it is
necessary for all of us to analyse self-importance to contribute in solution of global issue because
every individual efforts is favourable to solve the problem of sepsis globally.
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REFERENCES
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