Mac Horsburgh, an advocate against sepsis from Winnipeg and a sepsis survivor himself, is raising his voice. Now he’s calling for seismic change in Manitoba’s approach to treating and detecting sepsis. It’s hard to imagine today, but nearly nine years ago, Horsburgh was fighting for his life. A critical state developed from infections that would start to run amok if not treated quickly. His own experience inspires his advocacy work to drive better medical practices and protocols across the province. Now, he just wants to make sure no one else has to go through the same thing.
Horsburgh’s nightmare story started with a misdiagnosed cyst on his finger, which specialists dismissed as simple inflammation. That condition went undiagnosed for several days, which developed to the point of sepsis that nearly killed him. His story emphasizes the importance of early detection and treatment of infections to avoid such drastic outcomes.
The Urgency of Early Detection
Sepsis is one of the top causes for adult ICU admissions across the country. Unfortunately, this is true in Winnipeg as well. Alarmingly, it is the cause behind one in 18 deaths across the country. This now ranks it as the 12th-leading cause of death in the nation. Early intervention is key. When infections are treated early, the development of sepsis can usually be avoided.
Horsburgh was outspoken about his frustrations over the way sepsis is currently treated in Manitoba. He stated, “I’ve struggled with the idea that we’re not doing enough for sepsis patients.” His experience and advocacy serve as a powerful reminder about the importance of timely medical intervention. Dr. Sylvain Lother, a leading expert in the field, is a passionate advocate of this concept. He underscores how rapid testing and same day treatment can dramatically improve patient outcomes.
“Getting testing done more rapidly and getting the treatment started immediately could lead to symptoms improving a lot faster.” – Dr. Sylvain Lother
Horsburgh’s story is a tragic example of the real consequences that can result from care that is too long in coming. He remarked, “My life had become a big puzzle, but I was missing a lot of pieces.” His nearly two-month battle against sepsis took a big toll on his physical health. It took a serious toll on his emotional health and family life.
Lessons from Nova Scotia
Unlike Manitoba, Nova Scotia has made strides to improve their sepsis care model. The province has been working under a detailed sepsis action improvement plan spearheaded by Dr. Vanessa Sweet. Part of this initiative involves implementing standard protocols to detect sepsis and equipping health facilities with specialized treatment kits.
Nova Scotia emergency rooms were once able to get sepsis patients started on the right medications within an hour of triage. In recent years, climbing wait times have made this nearly impossible, revealing a broken system in dire need of repair. Dr. Sweet stated, “The earlier we can move that critical piece in a patient’s journey in the emergency department, the better.”
Additionally, Nova Scotia has created information packages for sepsis patients to assist them in their post-recovery. This proactive approach is a far cry from the restricted policy environment in Manitoba. There, nurse practitioners, doctors, and clinical assistants are the only ones allowed to prescribe sepsis medications. This limitation highlights the importance of improving access to care and treatment alternatives.
A Call for Systemic Change
Horsburgh’s advocacy stems from a need to see the standards of care for sepsis improved across Manitoba. He’s convinced that improving education around protocols and increasing the types of healthcare providers allowed to prescribe treatment would help save lives. “Actions speak louder than words. So I’m still going to wait and see,” he remarked when discussing ongoing commitments from provincial health authorities.
Dr. Lother cautions that unnecessary antibiotic prescriptions place patients at a greater risk of death. He noted, “If we prescribe an antibiotic that’s not … potent enough, it’s not killing the bacteria. We know that’s associated with a near doubling in the mortality risk.” Effective antibiotic use is a balancing act. While not enough would be just as bad, counterproductive even, since overprescribing contributes to the terrible problem of antibiotic resistance.
As conversations go on to decide how to best improve sepsis care moving forward, Horsburgh is just hopeful that his story will spark change. “Medical care services saved my life, but medical care in the early stages created the problem for me too,” he reflected on his journey. His advocacy doesn’t stop at creating awareness — he wants to see the voices of patients change the healthcare system for the better.
