Soaring cocaine use among millennials and the middle class could lead to a rise in cases of deadly sepsis, warn experts
- The Royal College of Emergency Medicine is set to issue a national safety alert
- It has been prompted by the death of an architect after taking the common drug
- Some concerns have also been raised about cocaine use among the middle class
- Doctors say snorting cocaine allows bacteria a quick route into the blood stream
- Sepsis develops when an infection sparks a violent immune response in the body
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Soaring use of cocaine in Britain could lead to a rise in the number of cases of sepsis, experts have warned.
The Royal College of Emergency Medicine is set to issue a national patient safety alert in the coming days over the little-known link between cocaine and sepsis.
The alert has been prompted by the death of an architect in Manchester after taking the drug, along with concern about increasing cocaine use among the middle class.
Doctors have realised snorting cocaine allows bacteria a quick route into the blood stream – vastly increasing the risk of falling ill with sepsis.
Cocaine is seeing a major resurgence, particularly among 16- to 24-year-olds, who are twice as likely to use the drug since they were in 2012, according to Home Office figures.
The Royal College of Emergency Medicine is set to issue a national patient safety alert in the coming days over the little-known link between cocaine and sepsis
Cressida Dick, commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, and Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, have each warned in the last week that cocaine use is booming at middle-class parties, helping drive violence on the streets of London and at its source in South America.
Some 875,000 are now estimated to use the drug each year in England and Wales, up 15 per cent year-on-year, putting it second only to cannabis.
Now experts are warning that few users are aware of the dangers of sepsis associated with the drug.
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The alert follows an inquest last month into the death of 39-year-old Darren Vernon, who died after using cocaine.
Dr John Butler, who treated Mr Vernon at North Manchester General Hospital, told the inquest: ‘It was clear that there was something wrong but not exactly what it was.
‘It was suspected that he had sepsis but staff did not know where it was coming from.’
DOES THE ALERT FOLLOW THE DEATH OF DARREN VERNON?
The alert follows an inquest last month into the death of 39-year-old Darren Vernon, who died after using cocaine.
Dr John Butler, who treated Mr Vernon at North Manchester General Hospital, told the inquest: ‘It was clear that there was something wrong but not exactly what it was.
‘It was suspected that he had sepsis but staff did not know where it was coming from.’
Mr Vernon was given antibiotics but his condition deteriorated and he was moved to intensive care when he suffered a fatal cardiac arrest.
Dr Butler added: ‘This is not a common thing that staff have seen in the hospital and we will now put this into our education to our juniors and put it across the whole NHS Trust.’
The architect from Blackley, Manchester had attained a First Class Honours degree and began bodybuilding when he was 16. He subsequently entered a series of competitions including Mr Universe.
He won British titles in natural body building for the British National Bodybuilding Federation in Glasgow and went on to become world champion for the International Fitness and Physique Association in Washington DC.
Mr Vernon was given antibiotics but his condition deteriorated and he was moved to intensive care when he suffered a fatal cardiac arrest.
Dr Butler added: ‘This is not a common thing that staff have seen in the hospital and we will now put this into our education to our juniors and put it across the whole NHS Trust.’
The latest annual figures show that there were 432 recorded deaths from cocaine in England and Wales last year.
The pathologist who revealed the link, Dr Emyr Benbow, said: ‘There is a significant possibility of a rise in sepsis deaths if cocaine usage continues to rise.
‘We don’t really know is how many cases we are missing. It is impossible to know.’
He added: ‘Cocaine gets into your bloodstream very quickly through the nasal membrane.
‘It then causes changes to the blood supply and causes arterial constriction.
‘There are more bacteria in your gut than you can imagine, and once you reduce the blood supply the biological barrier that protects those bacteria getting into your bloodstream is compromised.
‘Anything that reduces the blood supply to your gut to the degree that it compromises viability is going to allow bacteria.’
Sepsis develops when an infection such as blood poisoning sparks a violent immune response in which the body attacks its own organs. It is notoriously difficult to diagnose until it has spread throughout the body.
A spokesman for the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, which is expected to issue its safety alert this week, said: ‘This tragic case has highlighted one of the lesser known risks of cocaine use; it can allow bacteria to enter the bloodstream from the gut, which can result in infection and sepsis.
‘While we would strongly discourage recreational drug use, it is important that the public are aware of the risks.
‘Sepsis has been on the increase in our emergency departments, in large part due to lack of staff and beds, and it is important that all staff recognise the signs and symptoms.’
WHAT IS SEPSIS?
Sepsis, known as the ‘silent killer’, strikes when an infection such as blood poisoning sparks a violent immune response in which the body attacks its own organs.
It is the leading cause of avoidable death, killing at least 44,000 a year, and the Daily Mail has long campaigned for more awareness.
If caught early, the infection can be controlled by antibiotics before the body goes into overdrive – ultimately leading to death within a matter of minutes.
But the early symptoms of sepsis can be easily confused with more mild conditions, meaning it can be difficult to diagnose.
Sepsis has similar symptoms to flu, gastroenteritis and a chest infection.
These include:
- Slurred speech or confusion
- Extreme shivering or muscle pain
- Passing no urine in a day
- Severe breathlessness
- It feels like you are dying
- Skin mottled or discoloured
Symptoms in children are:
- Fast breathing
- Fits or convulsions
- Mottled, bluish or pale skin
- Rashes that do not fade when pressed
- Lethargy
- Feeling abnormally cold
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