The case of Manjit Sangha, a former pharmacist from Birmingham, illustrates the terrifying speed of sepsis.
A dramatic change in less than 24 hours
One Saturday, she was playing with her dog; by Monday evening, she was in an induced coma. Doctors suspect that simply licking a small cut allowed bacteria to enter his body.
Found unconscious on her sofa, with blue lips and frozen limbs, she presented the typical signs of septic shock. As Dr. Gérald Kierzek, medical director of True Medical, recalls, “Sepsis is when the infection does not remain localized but spreads throughout the body, causing organ dysfunction (heart, lungs, kidneys).”
Sepsis, also called sepsis, is an infection caused by “a common bacteria that can colonize the skin or nose, without necessarily causing disease” recalls the Pasteur Institute. “However, if it enters the body through a cut, scrape or other skin injury, it can cause an infection. Infections can become serious if the bacteria invade deeper tissues or enter the bloodstream.”.
“The golden hour”: why every minute counts
For Manjit, the situation quickly escalated into disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), a complication where blood clots abnormally throughout the body, blocking small vessels. It was this mechanism that led to the necrosis of his hands and feet.
Faced with such an infection, reactivity is the only defense. Dr. Kierzek emphasizes this crucial concept. “When sepsis is suspected, every hour counts. The earlier antibiotic therapy is started, the greater the chances of survival. We talk about the ‘golden hour’ in emergency medicine. In Manjit’s case, despite prompt treatment, his body suffered six cardiac arrests before stabilizing.
Quadruple amputation, the price of survival
To save the life of the fifty-year-old, surgeons had no choice but to perform a quadruple amputation: both legs below the knee and both hands. She also had her spleen removed.
These extreme measures are sometimes necessary when the infection causes a drop in blood pressure and widespread failure. “The sign that doesn’t mislead and should alert you is a red or purple spot on the skin that doesn’t disappear when you press on it (…) It’s purpura fulminans, an absolute emergency.” warns Dr. Kierzek. Although rare, infection by bacteria present in canine saliva can cause such devastation on fragile grounds.
A reconstruction driven by hope and technology
After 32 weeks of fighting in New Cross Hospital, Manjit is finally back home. His family has launched a call for donations on GoFundMe to finance advanced bionic prosthetics and intensive rehabilitation.
Determined to work again and walk again, she wants her ordeal to serve as a lesson: sepsis is not just a statistic, it is a reality that can strike anyone. “Poorly treated pneumonia or skin infection can lead to septic shock” confirms Dr. Kierzek. Vigilance remains the best protection.
Manjit Sangha’s story reminds us that behind a banal infection or a scratch can hide a fatal pathology. Immediate recognition of signs – such as confusion, mottled skin and high fever – is vital. Today, Manjit is fighting to regain his autonomy, proving that with extraordinary strength of will, it is possible to rebuild oneself, even after the worst.