(Snippets from the frontline)
Wiping out sepsis
Sepsis is a potentially fatal blood infection leading to hospitalization, and costing millions of dollars a year. Commonly, patients are older women that initially have urinary tract infections caused by E. Coli, a bacteria that can be found in the intestines.
As a housecall physician seeing patients who are frail and have mobility problems, I ask women the unenviable question: “How do you wipe?”
Because of arthritis, lessened flexibility, and diminished dexterity, many cannot twist to wipe from the side the way they were taught. Instead, they wipe back to front which could lead to contamination.
My questioning and conclusion is not scientific, yet faulty technique could be a contributing factor to the serious illness of sepsis.
We might be able to do an evidence-based study retroactively looking at statistics to tease out cause-and-effect, or more simply, educate older women to do the best they can by wiping appropriately. One of my patients even installed a bidet.
Literally, practical toilet hygiene could “wipe out sepsis” lessening the health threat to women, and even save money.
Gene Uzawa Dorio, M.D.
Leave a Comment