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An evaluation of sepsis in dentistry

British Dental Journal volume 230, pages 351–357 (2021)Cite this article

Abstract

Sepsis is a life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection. It is a major health concern and causes substantial morbidity and mortality. It is imperative that the signs of sepsis are identified early in both adult and paediatric patients and appropriately escalated to initiate early treatment and improve prognosis. This paper aims to discuss the change in classification from the previous systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) criteria to the current definition in adults and also the unchanged definition in children. The hallmark signs of sepsis (both red and amber flags) are discussed in relation to their underlying cellular mechanisms to provide a comprehensive overview for clinicians in primary care, hospital and community settings. The rise of antimicrobial resistance is also an increasing global health concern with resistant bacteria from common infections likely to result in greater patient morbidity and worse outcomes.

A literature search identified reported sepsis cases in dentistry through searches in Ovid Medline and Embase from January 1990 to December 2019. Only primary studies were included with no restrictions on languages. Four articles were identified which reported sepsis associated with tooth extractions, dental abscess and submental/submandibular cellulitis. It is well known that locoregional infections of dental origin have the potential to cause sepsis. Therefore, dental healthcare professionals need to be vigilant and understand the specific signs and escalation protocols to ensure patient safety.

Key points

  • The aim of this review is to provide a comprehensive overview of sepsis, including its classification, cellular mechanisms and clinical signs.

  • A summary of the literature on dental infections causing sepsis is also provided.

  • Clinicians in primary care, hospital settings and community will be able to identify the red and amber flags of sepsis and understand their responsibilities with regards to appropriate antimicrobial prescribing.

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Acknowledgements

We wish to extend our sincere appreciations to the UK Sepsis Trust for their support in writing this article.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Academic Clinical Fellow in Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, University of Manchester, UK

    Manas Dave

  2. Professor and Honorary Consultant in Paediatric Dentistry, University of Manchester, UK

    Siobhan Barry

  3. Dean for Dentistry and Institute Director, Professor of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Queen Mary University London, UK

    Paul Coulthard

  4. Consultant in Critical Care, Executive Director UK Sepsis Trust and Chief Executive of the Global Sepsis Alliance; University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, UK

    Ron Daniels

  5. Consultant in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Honorary Professor of Medical Education in Dentistry, Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Newcastle University, UK

    Mark Greenwood

  6. Senior Clinical Lecturer in Oral Microbiology, Queen Mary University London, UK

    Noha Seoudi

  7. Consultant in Special Care Dentistry, Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

    Graham Walton

  8. Senior Lecturer in Oral Surgery, University of Manchester, UK

    Neil Patel

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Correspondence to Manas Dave.

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Dave, M., Barry, S., Coulthard, P. et al. An evaluation of sepsis in dentistry. Br Dent J 230, 351–357 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41415-021-2724-6

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