Christina Hornyak’s life was on the line, but she didn’t realize it.

Weeks after she was diagnosed with a urinary tract infection, Hornyak found herself struggling. She had severe fatigue, mental fog, chills, low blood pressure and a heart rate that shot up simply from walking to her mailbox.

When Hornyak lost consciousness at her primary care physician’s office, she got a frightening answer about her symptoms at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital: she had developed sepsis, a potentially fatal immune system reaction to an infection.

Sentara has spent the last five years developing and fine-tuning care guidelines for sepsis patients – efforts that have reduced mortality rates from the condition by 44 percent since 2021.

Emergency room providers started her on intravenous antibiotics and fluids, part of what would be a six-night hospital stay.

“I was genuinely very scared,” Hornyak recalled. “I am aware that could have gone a different way for me, especially if I’d waited another day or two.”

The 33-year-old Suffolk resident has has been a health system employee for nine years. Since 2021, she has served as a patient safety coordinator.

“Christina is one of our own, and her story shows exactly why we’ve put so much work into this area,” said Dr. Kimberly Span, medical staff president and chief hospitalist at Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital. “Sepsis can happen to people of all ages, and we need much greater awareness of its dangers. We’ve come a long way, but we’re absolutely not done.”

In fact, Span said, people should consider sepsis in the same emergency category as a possible heart attack or stroke.

“If there’s any concern, err on the side of caution. It’s OK — actually, it’s good — to go straight to the hospital.”

Sepsis occurs when a bacterial, viral or fungal infection triggers inflammation and a chain of chemical reactions throughout the body. Common triggers include pneumonia, UTIs, appendicitis, meningitis, post-surgical complications, and skin infections, wounds or burns.

Sepsis is a leading cause of death in hospitalized patients in the United States. In a typical year, at least 1.7 million adults develop the condition; at least 350,000 die during their stay or move into hospice care, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. For every hour that treatment is delayed, the risk of death increases by 4 to 9%.

While anyone can develop sepsis, the risk is higher in babies and adults 65 and older, pregnant women, and anyone with a weakened immune system and/or chronic illness such as diabetes, cancer and lung or kidney disease.

Providers use the acronym “T.I.M.E.” to summarize symptoms: T for abnormally high or low temperature (fever, sweating, chills), I for signs of lingering infection (pain or discomfort linked to a previous diagnosis), M for mental decline (disorientation) and E for feeling extremely ill (exhaustion, difficulty breathing, rapid heart rate).

In recent years, hospitals across the country have begun to focus more on staff and patient education, along with prevention, early detection and effective treatment. They also have worked to decrease hospital-acquired infections via regular hand washing; use of gloves, masks and gowns; and continuous disinfection of equipment and surface areas.

Sentara, Riverside Health System and Chesapeake Regional Healthcare, for example, have formed sepsis committees and onsite care teams. Hospitals also follow standardized, time-based treatment plans — called “bundles” — proven to reduce mortality.

Immediate steps include collecting blood cultures, prescribing antibiotics and administering IV fluids. Later steps often add medications to help keep blood pressure stable, regular reassessments of patients, and follow-up tests on blood oxygen and glucose levels.

At Riverside, bedside nurses spearheaded a system to help them recognize potential sepsis and call for further evaluation. Electronic medical records now have built-in background programs that alert nurses to abnormal vital signs and lab results.

“With sepsis, it’s got to be an all-hands-on-deck approach to be successful,” noted Sara Watkins, senior director of quality improvement and innovation for Riverside, who leads the health system’s Sepsis Committee. “We’ve engaged nurses, doctors, pharmacists, lab technicians and more to keep our momentum going.”

For Hornyak, a stubborn UTI was the culprit. Originally diagnosed in October 2024, she went through three rounds of antibiotics that didn’t clear up her infection. By mid-December, she felt so weak over a five-day stretch that she considered going to the ER.

Christina Hornyak developed sepsis and ended up in the hospital in 2024 after a stubborn UTI. Courtesy/Sentara Health

“I just knew something was wrong with my body; I thought maybe a flu,” she said. “By Dec. 18, the day I passed out, I couldn’t breathe. The EMTs couldn’t get a blood pressure. They had me on oxygen in the ambulance, although I don’t remember any of that.”

She left the hospital on Christmas Eve but Hornyak, a self-described workaholic, had to take two months off her job. Only recently, more than nine months later, did she she feel as strong as she did before her diagnosis.

Back to working full-time and enjoying beach visits with her 4-year-old Labrador retriever, Hank, Hornyak encourages everyone to know their baseline blood pressure and heart rate — to realize when either is off — and to seek treatment much sooner than she did.

“I hope people will listen, because sepsis zapped all the energy right out of me,” Hornyak said. “I’m a young person but still had to rehab myself from the ground up. I’m just so grateful that I’m finally back to being me.”

Alison Johnson, ajohnsondp@yahoo.com

What to know about sepsis

Sepsis can develop from any bacterial, viral or fungal infection, or from wounds due to surgery or trauma. “Sepsis is a treatable life-threatening condition, but only if recognized and treated early,” said Kim Newton, director of quality and safety at Chesapeake Regional Healthcare.

Key symptoms: Confusion or disorientation; fever, shivering or feeling very cold; shortness of breath or rapid breathing; high heart rate or weak pulse; extreme pain or discomfort: clammy or sweaty skin; low blood pressure.

Tips for prevention: Wash hands regularly; keep wounds covered during healing; stay hydrated and eat well; manage chronic conditions such as diabetes; stay current on vaccinations recommended by a physician.

More information: Sentara has compiled a comprehensive educational website at sentara.com/CLP/sepsis.

https://www.dailypress.com/2025/10/11/sepsis-story-local-hospitals/