Dexter, Missouri -  Nearly one third of American adults have never heard the word “sepsis,” a potentially deadly, toxic response to an infection.

SoutheastHEALTH of Stoddard County will host a seminar on sepsis awareness and prevention from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, September 26. The event will be at Southeast Medical Plaza, 1200 North One Mile Road. Panelists are Reza Jalal, MD, Lead Hospitalist, Internal Medicine, Southeast Health Center of Stoddard County; Christopher Crocker, DO, Lead Hospitalist, Internal Medicine, Southeast Hospital; Neal McVey, PharmD; and Robert Wells, RN, Director of Emergency Services at Southeast Health Center of Stoddard County. 

Seminar seating is limited. To reserve your spot, call 1-800-800-5123.

Dr. Jalal says sepsis kills about 279,000 people every year in the U.S. That number is more than the number of people who die from breast cancer, prostate cancer and AIDS combined. 

“When you have an infection, your immune system works to fight it. Sometime it can fight the infection on its own and other times people may need medications. For reasons we don’t understand, sometimes the body begins attacking itself. This is sepsis.”

People of all ages can get sepsis, Dr. Jalal notes. Those at higher risk include people with a chronic illness, the very young, older adults and people with compromised immune systems due to certain medications or chemotherapy. If you have had sepsis before, you are at a greater risk of developing it again. “Sepsis is an important health topic and one that everyone should understand,” he adds.

About SoutheastHEALTH

At SoutheastHEALTH, the region's premier healthcare system in southeast Missouri, our patients receive excellent care of the highest clinical quality, close to home. Within our network are more than 50 care locations in 13 communities, including hospitals, primary and specialty care clinics representing over 30 clinical specialties and extending care for patients in a four-state area. Learn more at SEhealth.org.