Sepsis is listed as the medical cause of death for 34-year-old Christopher Torres-Garcia. Mr. Torres-Garcia was an inmate in Webb County Jail when an infection developed at drug injection sites on his body. He entered the Laredo, Texas, jail on December 1, 2021, and died on December 8, 2021.

It has been widely recognized that correctional inmates are among those who are at most risk for developing sepsis from existing infections. Even small infections should be taken seriously in jail settings. It is considered negligence when an infection becomes a life-threatening case of sepsis in a jail setting. Watchdog groups say that inmates who don’t get the antibiotics needed to prevent death from sepsis are silent sufferers in a similar manner to victims of medical neglect in nursing homes.

Long-Term Effects of Sepsis

Survivors of sepsis face a long road to recovery due to the dramatic impact the condition has on the body. When not treated immediately, sepsis can result in organ failure and tissue decay. The lungs, stomach, urinary tract, and skin can all be affected by sepsis. The infection often travels through the bloodstream, and recovery can involve long-term hospital care. Patients treated for sepsis are often bedridden for days or weeks. As a result, degradation of muscle function takes place. Basic activities such as washing themselves and preparing meals can be very difficult. Long periods of rest and physical therapy are often required for sepsis patients to return to normal life.

Learn more in Part 1 and Part 2 of this ongoing series.

Conjecturing that an individual or an institution has participated in wrongdoing is not intended on this website. Each post on this site aims to provide benefit to inmates in Texas, whether they are now or were previously held in a county jail.

–Guest Contributor