Difference between revisions of "Infection"

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<onlyinclude><includeonly>''Main Article: [[Infection]]''</includeonly>
 
<onlyinclude><includeonly>''Main Article: [[Infection]]''</includeonly>
 
{{TOCright}}
 
{{TOCright}}
 +
'''Infection''' is a very quick disease that can be contracted from open wounds.
  
 
== Overview ==
 
== Overview ==
−
Infections can occur on most wounds, except missing body parts or blunt trauma. Infections are the fastest working illness in RimWorld, taking little more than a day to kill the victim if left untended. Animals can also contract infections, though at a reduced rate.
+
Infections can occur on most wounds. It is the fastest working illness in RimWorld, taking little more than a day to kill the victim if left untended. Animals can also contract infections, moving just as fast as human infections, although it is at a reduced chance.
  
−
Any cut, bite, burn or frostbite has a chance to become infected; blunt traumas (aka bruises) do not. Once an infection sets in, it ''immediately'' becomes a life-or-death race between the infection's growing % vs. the patient's growing immunity %, first to a value of 1.00 (100%) "wins".  '''If untreated, the patient loses this race in less than a day and a half''', so any infection needs to be '''treated immediately''' and then '''twice a day'''.  Any significant delay in any treatment hurts the odds of the patient surviving, or at least not requiring amputation (see [[Infection#Progression|below]] for full details).
+
It is possible to have multiple infections simultaneously across different body parts. Each infection progresses at its own rate, while immunity against infections progresses at the same rate across the whole body. If the patient can become immune before the worst infection reaches 100%, that now-immune patient has beaten ''all'' their infections.
  
−
[[Infection#Stages|General symptoms]] begin with a small amount of pain and partial loss of part function. Advanced symptoms progress to a small-to-moderate amount of pain, slight loss of consciousness and further loss of part efficiency. The final stages rapidly deteriorate to an excruciating amount of pain, some loss of breathing, a loss of consciousness, and acute part failure. Death follows not long after.
+
If untreated, '''the patient loses this race in less than a day and a half''', so any infection needs to be treated immediately and constantly. A pawn with 100% [[Immunity Gain Speed]] will become immune in around 1.5 days.
  
−
* [[Infection#Prevention|Prevention]] is the best treatment - a capable doctor and clean environment for treatment are critical to avoiding this deadly ailment before it happens.
+
=== Mechanics ===
−
* If left untreated, infections kill (or destroy the limb) in a little over a day - untreated infections move ''fast''!
+
Any cut, bite, burn or frostbite has a chance to become infected; blunt traumas (aka bruises) do not, nor can a pawn get an infection from losing a body part (i.e. a hand cannot become infected because of a lost finger). The chance of a pawn getting an infection depends on the wound type and various other factors:
−
* Good treatment will slow the disease, giving the patient more time to build up an immunity and recover.  
+
* Bite, burns, and chemical burns have a 30% chance.
 +
* Frostbite has a 25% chance.
 +
* Shredding injuries have a 20% chance.
 +
* Most other bleeding wounds have a 15% chance.
 +
* Bruises, cracks or missing parts cannot be infected.
 +
* Colonists are more likely to get wound infections at higher [[difficulty|difficulties]].
 +
Treated wounds can still get infected, at a reduced chance. The multiplier is 85% at 0% tend quality, and linearly decreases to 5% at 100% tend quality. Animals have 20% of a colonist's chance to get an infection. Cleaner rooms further reduce the chance of infection. A regular room without any dirt has a 50% multiplier, a clean room with [[sterile tile]]s has a 32% multiplier, while caravans and outdoor spaces have are 100%.
  
−
This disease is unique in that it only affects a specific body part, making infections curable by amputating the affected body part. It is not possible to amputate vital body parts.
+
When a colonist has an infectable wound, the game will count down randomly from {{ticks|15000}} to {{ticks|45000}}. The game will also keep track of if the wound was tended, and, if so, what percent chance of an infection would arise from the room stats and the tend quality. Once it reaches this timer, it will decide if the wound will be infected, based on that percent chance. Once an infection sets in, it ''immediately'' becomes a life-or-[[death]] race between the infection rates vs. the patient's immunity progression; the first to a value of 1.00 (100%) "wins".  
  
−
* The current progress of the infection (measured in %), and the patient's growing immunity against it, can be seen under the Health tab, by mouse-hovering over the specific infection.
+
=== Prevention ===
 +
The [[Gene#Perfect immunity|Perfect immunity gene]] {{BiotechIcon}} will completely prevent infections. However, creating a [[xenogerm]] with it requires an [[archite capsule]], so modifying every pawn with it is expensive. For pawns without the gene, the chances of infection can be greatly reduced. Make sure to tend to people/animals quickly, in a clean/sterile environment. Any constructed [[floors|floor]] is better than dirt, and [[Sterile tile|sterile tiles]] are better than generic floors. You should also have pawns [[Orders#Clean|clean]] the room in question. See [[Room_stats#Cleanliness|cleanliness]] for more details.
  
−
== Mechanism ==
+
A triage area can be established near a killbox to tend to pawns quickly without having to trudge halfway across the map carrying the pawn to tend - the utility of this depends on the distance to a hospital and the number of pawns needing treatment. More pawns and larger distance make it more relevant, while a single pawn getting downed in the room next to the hospital would be better off taken to the clean room.
  
−
When a colonist has an infectable wound the game will count down randomly from {{ticks|15000}} to {{ticks|45000}}. Once it reaches this timer it will decide if the wound will be infected.
+
== Progression ==
 +
Infection and immunity progression begin as soon as the disease is detected; the first to 100% (1.0 severity) "wins", either saving or killing the pawn. The current status of both progressions can be viewed in the sick colonist's Health tab by mouse-hovering over the word "Infection". Unfortunately, the disease progresses faster without good treatment and rest.
  
−
The chance of a pawn getting an infection depends on the tend quality, wound type, room cleanliness at time of tending, and storyteller difficulty.
+
Note that the immunity only applies to the current infection, not future infections. Any new infection will cause the process to begin again from scratch.
−
*Treated wounds can still get infected at a reduced chance.
 
−
**The chance multiplier is 85% at 0% tend quality, and linearly decreases to 5% at 100% tend quality.
 
−
*Different wound types have different chances to get infected.
 
−
**Bite, burn or frostbite wounds have a 25% chance.
 
−
**Most other bleeding wounds have a 10% chance.
 
−
**Bruises, cracks or missing parts cannot be infected.
 
−
*Clean rooms with [[sterile tile]]s have a 32% chance multiplier. In contrast, a regular room without any dirt has 50%, and caravans and outdoors spaces have 100%.
 
−
*Colonists are more likely to get wound infections at higher difficulties.
 
  
−
Animals have 20% of a colonist's chance to get an infection.
+
=== Stages ===
 +
{| class="wikitable"
 +
|-
 +
! Stage !! Severity !! Symptoms
 +
|-
 +
| '''Infection (minor)''' || 0% - 32% ||
 +
* [[Pain]]: {{++|5%}}
 +
|-
 +
| '''Infection (major)''' || 33% - 77% ||
 +
* [[Pain]]: {{++|8%}}
 +
|-
 +
| '''Infection (Extreme)''' || 78% - 86% ||
 +
* [[Pain]]: {{++|12%}}
 +
* [[Consciousness]]: {{--|5%}}
 +
|-
 +
| '''Infection (Extreme)''' || 87% - 99% ||
 +
* [[Consciousness]]: Max 10% (Unconsciousness)
 +
* [[Pain]]: {{++|85%}}
 +
* [[Breathing]]: {{--|5%}}
 +
|-
 +
| '''Infection (Extreme)''' || 100% ||
 +
* [[Death]]
 +
|}
  
−
It is possible to have multiple infections simultaneously across different body parts. Each infection progresses at its own rate, while immunity against infections progresses at the same rate across the whole body. If the patient can become immune before the worst infection reaches 100%, that now-immune patient has beaten ''all'' their infections.
+
=== Humans & Animals ===
 +
* When not immune or treated, severity increases by {{++|0.84}} per day ({{++|0.035}} per hour).
 +
* Treatment slows progression by a maximum of {{---|0.53}} per day (less with poor treatment).
 +
** At 100% treatment, the disease will progress by {{++|0.31}} per day.
 +
* When immune, severity decreases by {{---|0.7}} per day.
 +
* Immunity increases by {{+|0.6441}} per day when sick.
  
−
== Stages ==
+
This means that an infection can kill less than {{#expr:1/0.84 round 2}} days from first symptoms. A pawn with 100% [[Immunity Gain Speed]] will become immune in {{#expr:1/(0.6441) round 2}} days on average - meaning that they will die without treatment slowing severity gain or improving IGS to at least {{#expr: 0.84/0.6441 * 100 round 1}}%. Note that this ignores the effect of InfectionLuck. For a full breakdown on [[Immunity Gain Speed]] and the factors that affect it, see that page.
  
−
====Minor - Severity: 0 - 0.32====
+
=== Case studies ===
−
*+5% Pain
+
* It has been observed in patients with normal beds, a room with "slightly dirty" to "dirty" [[cleanliness]], well nourished, Medical care with skill ~6-10 and only herbal medicine (Tend quality ~40-50), will recover from their infections, even despite some few hours delay in starting treatment. It sometimes is a near thing, and may result in a longer recovery time from an end infection near/over 90% when they reach immunity, depending on the delay, their feeding schedule and the "luck" of the attending doctor.  Malnutrition (from hunger) definitely slows the immunity process, as listed under [[Immunity Gain Speed]].
  
−
====Major - Severity: 0.33 - 0.77====
+
* It has also been observed that a prisoner in good health (age < 50, no health issues), well fed, in an excellent-quality [[hospital bed]] with a [[vitals monitor]], and a Tend quality of 99% (high Medical skill using [[glitterworld medicine]]), gained Immunity more than 2:1 over Infection gain (from a 68 Immunity and 83 Infection, +32 v. +15). That's not a "maximum", but it may be close to a reasonably practical one, just as a benchmark.
−
*+8% Pain
 
−
 
 
−
====Extreme (Initial) - Severity: 0.78 - 0.86====
 
−
*+12% Pain
 
−
*-5% Consciousness
 
−
 
 
−
====Extreme (Advanced) - Severity: 0.87 - 0.99====
 
−
*Loss of Consciousness (max 10%)
 
−
*+85% Pain
 
−
*-5% Breathing
 
−
 
 
−
====Extreme (Fatal) - Severity: 1 ====
 
−
*Death
 
−
 
 
−
===Progression===
 
−
Two competing forces, the infection and the patient's immunity, progress separately toward 100% (a value of "1.00"); the first to 100% "wins" and the patient then immediately either dies or begins to quickly recover. The current status of both progressions can be viewed in the sick colonist's Health tab by mouse-hovering over the word "Infection".
 
−
 
 
−
If a patient is in good health and has decent conditions (see below), they gain immunity to any infection in just over 1 1/2 days, or more if there are any issues with their health/environment.
 
−
 
 
−
The bad news is that, if left untreated, infections can kill in ''less than 1 1/4 days'' - which is faster than immunity can be gained!  So the goal is to treat the patient and slow the infection enough to give the patient time to gain immunity.
 
−
 
 
−
* Until immunity is gained and without treatment, severity of the infection increases by +0.84 per day (or  +.035 per hr.), progressing toward death at "1.00". Thus, if left untreated, infections can kill less than 29 hours (1.19 days) from first symptoms.
 
−
* Treatment slows progression by a maximum of -0.53 per day (less with poor treatment).
 
−
** Good treatment{{Check Tag|What defines "good"?|Is it just a % based on the Treatment value? Where does "max" occur?}} means that the disease will progress by 0.31 per (.84 -.53) day at this rate, slowing the infection to require 3.22 days to reach 100% (although infections don't start at "0.00" at the time of notification). This works out to slowing the infection to a minimum of just under +.013 per hour.
 
−
* For a healthy* patient, immunity increases by 0.6441 per day (~.0268 per hour) when sick, taking 1.55* days to reach 100% immunity.
 
−
* When 100% immunity is reached, the patient is immune and safe, and severity of the infection immediately begins to ''decrease'' by 0.7 per day (or ~.03/hour), so it takes less than a day and a half before the worst infection is fully cured.
 
−
** When immunity is achieved, in the Health tab, the white "circle" next to the infection will change to a gold shield. The current progress of the (now healing) infection can still be seen by mouse-hovering over the entry.
 
−
 
 
−
: ''(* A patient gains immunity more slowly with poor blood filtration (e.g. from a missing/damaged kidney), malnutrition (i.e. long-term hunger), or over the age of 50, so their time to reach immunity will be greater. [[Infection#Extremely_vulnerable|Extremely vulnerable patients]] have only extreme options.)''
 
  
 
All this math also means that it will take a patient almost 3 days, or more, to go through the process of first fighting and then recovering from an infection, besides recovering from whatever wound or ailment caused the infection in the first place.  Yet another reason to provide prompt, sterile treatment for all colonists' wounds to avoid this in the first place.
 
All this math also means that it will take a patient almost 3 days, or more, to go through the process of first fighting and then recovering from an infection, besides recovering from whatever wound or ailment caused the infection in the first place.  Yet another reason to provide prompt, sterile treatment for all colonists' wounds to avoid this in the first place.
  
−
Once an infection is gone from the system, so is any immunity to future infections, and the process will begin again from scratch.
+
=== Default warning ===
 +
Toward the end of a bad infection, once the infection becomes "extreme" (80% or more), you will get a bright red warning among the other notices on the right side of the screen saying:
  
−
== Prevention ==
+
: "<mark style="background:#FF0000;"><span style="color:white;">'''Medical emergency'''</span></mark> People are at risk for [[death]] because of severe illness..."
  
−
In order to prevent infections, make sure that people and animals that have open wounds are in a clean/sterile environment for the initial treatment of any infection-prone wound (e.g. no natural flooring apart from rock, no dirt or blood on the floor, etc.).  Clean any room before treating wounds.
+
This alert appears regardless of whether that colonist is currently beating the infection or not, or will do so - the game doesn't do the math to predict whether the infection or the immunity will reach 100% first, but you should be able to.  The warning is simply there to remind you that now may be the time to take drastic action, just in case you are losing the race. The notice will disappear when immunity reaches 100% (regardless of the current level of infection), or when the victim dies.
−
 
 
−
Although  a clean (or even sterile) room won't guarantee that a wound will not get infected, it will reduce the chance of an infection occurring, and is a worthy precaution to take. Any clean(!) constructed [[floors|floor]] is better than dirt (some are better than others), and [[Sterile tile|sterile tiles]] are better than generic floors. (See [[Room_stats#Cleanliness|cleanliness]] for more details).
 
−
 
 
−
A triage area can be established near a killbox to tend to pawns quickly without having to trudge halfway across the map carrying the pawn to tend - the utility of this depends on the distance to a hospital and the number of pawns needing treatment. More pawns and larger distance make it more relevant, while a single pawn getting downed in the room next to the hospital would be better off taken to the clean room.
 
  
 
== Treatment ==
 
== Treatment ==
 +
[[Infection#Prevention|Prevention]] is the best treatment - a capable doctor and clean environment for treatment are critical to avoiding this deadly ailment before it happens.  Even after successful treatment of a bad infection there can be a fairly lengthy recovery time, so prevention really ''is'' the best medicine in this case.
  
−
As with any other disease: Make sure that the patient is rested, well-fed, and treated whenever possible. Treatment is administered once every 12 hours, per infection.  Infections progress very quickly, and missing a treatment can be a ''very'' costly mistake. Due to the rate at which they progress, you'll need at least a competent doctor and medicine in order to ensure that the affected person survives their infections.
+
If left untreated, infections kill in a little over a day - untreated infections move ''fast!'' For resting colonists with 100% immunity gain speed and immediate treatment, you will need at least 15% average treatment quality to ensure that one doesn't succumb to their infected wound(s).
−
 
 
−
As a last resort, if a colonist is about to die, don't hesitate to amputate* the affected part. It's better to have a colonist missing a part or two than a dead one, and they won't mind if you remove their infected parts, either.
 
−
 
 
−
: * To amputate: Under the patient's Health tab is the Operations tab; "add a bill" to amputate the infected body part. You may have to/want to upgrade the patient's default "medicine" used for procedures - that's under Health/Overview. If an arm/leg is the target, sure to amputate the ''correct'' (left/right) limb - surgeons just do what they're told.)
 
−
 
 
−
=== Normal people ===
 
−
 
 
−
For colonists with 100% immunity gain speed, you will need at least 15% average treatment quality to ensure that one doesn't succumb to their infected wound(s).
 
−
 
 
−
=== Extremely vulnerable ===
 
  
−
For those with a base immunity gain rate of 39% or less, there is no chance that they will be able to survive a wound infection normally, even with 100% treatment quality for all treatments and rest in a [[hospital bed]] with [[vitals monitor]] connected. This includes some people with kidney and liver damage (physical or chemical).
+
As with any other disease, make sure that the patient is rested, well-fed, and treated whenever possible. A single infection will take multiple treatments, administered once every 12 hours, per infection.  Infections progress very quickly, and missing or delaying a treatment can be a ''very'' costly mistake. Due to the rate at which infections progress, you'll want at least a competent doctor using [[herbal medicine]] or better in order to ensure that the affected person survives an infection.
  
−
To save the colonist you can do the following:
+
Once you beat the infection, that value then begins to (slowly) drop back to "0", from where ever it was; no further treatment is necessary once this starts. However, better treatment quality results will stop the infection before it progresses to a higher value, saving recovery time for the patient, so the more bonuses you can scrape together* during treatment, the faster the recovery.
−
*Administer [[healer mech serum]]- instantly treats the infection
 
−
*Administer [[luciferium]]- if pawn has 23% or more immunity gain speed remaining initially, this gives pawn a chance to survive
 
−
*Amputation
 
−
*Part replacement
 
  
−
=== Amputation ===
+
: (* better Medical skill, better medicine, a [[Rooms#Cleanliness|clean room]], a higher quality [[Bed#Surgery_Success_Chance_Factor|bed]], upgrading to a [[hospital bed]], adding a connected [[vitals monitor]], etc. See [[Doctoring#Treatment|Doctoring]] for more details.)
−
If you know that a colonist might not make it, it's best that you amputate the part. Colonists that reach 80-90% disease progression with their immune systems unable to catch up should have their infected part amputated immediately if possible.
 
  
−
There is a chance that an amputation will fail, however, if not amputating will result in certain death it is best to take the risk. Besides, if you are amputating a hand, what does it matter if the surgeon manages to tear off the rest of the amputee's arm?
+
This disease is unique in that it only affects a specific, isolated body part, making infections curable by removing that part. It is not possible to amputate vital organs, though some can be replaced with [[Artificial body parts#Body|artificial versions]]. It's (usually) better to have a colonist missing a part or two than to lose the colonist entirely, and there is no [[mood]] debuff if you remove an infected part. If the infection has progressed to over 97%, there is little to no chance your surgeons can successfully pull off an amputation in time, so plan accordingly. As with any operation, amputations (and organ replacements) can fail, leaving the infected part attached, so if you make the decision to do this, try to operate before 90% or earlier, so you have time to try again.
 +
:* To amputate: Under the patient's Health tab is the Operations tab; "Add a bill" to amputate the infected body part. You may also have to/want to upgrade the patient's default "medicine" used for procedures - that's under their Health/Overview tab. If an arm/leg/kidney is the target, make sure to amputate the ''correct'' (left/right) part - surgeons just do what they're told.
  
−
If the infection has progressed to over 97%, there is little to no chance your surgeons can successfully pull off an amputation in time. It's better to strip the sick colonist of their clothes and leave them to die or euthanize them to extract some [[Skills#Medical|Medical]] experience.
+
=== Vulnerable ===
 +
For those with a base immunity gain rate of 39% or less, there is no chance that they will be able to survive a wound infection normally, even with 100% treatment quality for all treatments and rest in a [[hospital bed]] with [[vitals monitor]] connected. This includes some people with kidney and liver damage (physical or chemical). A pawn with poor treatment or little rest may also be at risk of death.
  
−
=== Part replacement ===
+
To save the colonist, you can do the following:
−
Besides amputation, you can also swap out the diseased part with a healthy one. If the surgery fails, however, you will risk another infection from the surgical cuts and stabs.
+
* Administer [[healer mech serum]]- instantly treats the infection
 +
* Administer [[luciferium]]- if pawn has 23% or more immunity gain speed remaining initially, this gives pawn a chance to survive
 +
* Amputation or part replacement
 +
* A [[biosculpter pod]]'s medic cycle {{IdeologyIcon}}
  
 
== Version history ==
 
== Version history ==

Revision as of 11:41, 17 June 2024

Infection is a very quick disease that can be contracted from open wounds.

Overview

Infections can occur on most wounds. It is the fastest working illness in RimWorld, taking little more than a day to kill the victim if left untended. Animals can also contract infections, moving just as fast as human infections, although it is at a reduced chance.

It is possible to have multiple infections simultaneously across different body parts. Each infection progresses at its own rate, while immunity against infections progresses at the same rate across the whole body. If the patient can become immune before the worst infection reaches 100%, that now-immune patient has beaten all their infections.

If untreated, the patient loses this race in less than a day and a half, so any infection needs to be treated immediately and constantly. A pawn with 100% Immunity Gain Speed will become immune in around 1.5 days.

Mechanics

Any cut, bite, burn or frostbite has a chance to become infected; blunt traumas (aka bruises) do not, nor can a pawn get an infection from losing a body part (i.e. a hand cannot become infected because of a lost finger). The chance of a pawn getting an infection depends on the wound type and various other factors:

  • Bite, burns, and chemical burns have a 30% chance.
  • Frostbite has a 25% chance.
  • Shredding injuries have a 20% chance.
  • Most other bleeding wounds have a 15% chance.
  • Bruises, cracks or missing parts cannot be infected.
  • Colonists are more likely to get wound infections at higher difficulties.

Treated wounds can still get infected, at a reduced chance. The multiplier is 85% at 0% tend quality, and linearly decreases to 5% at 100% tend quality. Animals have 20% of a colonist's chance to get an infection. Cleaner rooms further reduce the chance of infection. A regular room without any dirt has a 50% multiplier, a clean room with sterile tiles has a 32% multiplier, while caravans and outdoor spaces have are 100%.

When a colonist has an infectable wound, the game will count down randomly from 15,000 ticks (4.17 mins) to 45,000 ticks (12.5 mins). The game will also keep track of if the wound was tended, and, if so, what percent chance of an infection would arise from the room stats and the tend quality. Once it reaches this timer, it will decide if the wound will be infected, based on that percent chance. Once an infection sets in, it immediately becomes a life-or-death race between the infection rates vs. the patient's immunity progression; the first to a value of 1.00 (100%) "wins".

Prevention

The Perfect immunity gene Content added by the Biotech DLC will completely prevent infections. However, creating a xenogerm with it requires an archite capsule, so modifying every pawn with it is expensive. For pawns without the gene, the chances of infection can be greatly reduced. Make sure to tend to people/animals quickly, in a clean/sterile environment. Any constructed floor is better than dirt, and sterile tiles are better than generic floors. You should also have pawns clean the room in question. See cleanliness for more details.

A triage area can be established near a killbox to tend to pawns quickly without having to trudge halfway across the map carrying the pawn to tend - the utility of this depends on the distance to a hospital and the number of pawns needing treatment. More pawns and larger distance make it more relevant, while a single pawn getting downed in the room next to the hospital would be better off taken to the clean room.

Progression

Infection and immunity progression begin as soon as the disease is detected; the first to 100% (1.0 severity) "wins", either saving or killing the pawn. The current status of both progressions can be viewed in the sick colonist's Health tab by mouse-hovering over the word "Infection". Unfortunately, the disease progresses faster without good treatment and rest.

Note that the immunity only applies to the current infection, not future infections. Any new infection will cause the process to begin again from scratch.

Stages

Stage Severity Symptoms
Infection (minor) 0% - 32%
Infection (major) 33% - 77%
Infection (Extreme) 78% - 86%
Infection (Extreme) 87% - 99%
Infection (Extreme) 100%

Humans & Animals

  • When not immune or treated, severity increases by +0.84 per day (+0.035 per hour).
  • Treatment slows progression by a maximum of −0.53 per day (less with poor treatment).
    • At 100% treatment, the disease will progress by +0.31 per day.
  • When immune, severity decreases by −0.7 per day.
  • Immunity increases by +0.6441 per day when sick.

This means that an infection can kill less than 1.19 days from first symptoms. A pawn with 100% Immunity Gain Speed will become immune in 1.55 days on average - meaning that they will die without treatment slowing severity gain or improving IGS to at least 130.4%. Note that this ignores the effect of InfectionLuck. For a full breakdown on Immunity Gain Speed and the factors that affect it, see that page.

Case studies

  • It has been observed in patients with normal beds, a room with "slightly dirty" to "dirty" cleanliness, well nourished, Medical care with skill ~6-10 and only herbal medicine (Tend quality ~40-50), will recover from their infections, even despite some few hours delay in starting treatment. It sometimes is a near thing, and may result in a longer recovery time from an end infection near/over 90% when they reach immunity, depending on the delay, their feeding schedule and the "luck" of the attending doctor. Malnutrition (from hunger) definitely slows the immunity process, as listed under Immunity Gain Speed.
  • It has also been observed that a prisoner in good health (age < 50, no health issues), well fed, in an excellent-quality hospital bed with a vitals monitor, and a Tend quality of 99% (high Medical skill using glitterworld medicine), gained Immunity more than 2:1 over Infection gain (from a 68 Immunity and 83 Infection, +32 v. +15). That's not a "maximum", but it may be close to a reasonably practical one, just as a benchmark.

All this math also means that it will take a patient almost 3 days, or more, to go through the process of first fighting and then recovering from an infection, besides recovering from whatever wound or ailment caused the infection in the first place. Yet another reason to provide prompt, sterile treatment for all colonists' wounds to avoid this in the first place.

Default warning

Toward the end of a bad infection, once the infection becomes "extreme" (80% or more), you will get a bright red warning among the other notices on the right side of the screen saying:

"Medical emergency People are at risk for death because of severe illness..."

This alert appears regardless of whether that colonist is currently beating the infection or not, or will do so - the game doesn't do the math to predict whether the infection or the immunity will reach 100% first, but you should be able to. The warning is simply there to remind you that now may be the time to take drastic action, just in case you are losing the race. The notice will disappear when immunity reaches 100% (regardless of the current level of infection), or when the victim dies.

Treatment

Prevention is the best treatment - a capable doctor and clean environment for treatment are critical to avoiding this deadly ailment before it happens. Even after successful treatment of a bad infection there can be a fairly lengthy recovery time, so prevention really is the best medicine in this case.

If left untreated, infections kill in a little over a day - untreated infections move fast! For resting colonists with 100% immunity gain speed and immediate treatment, you will need at least 15% average treatment quality to ensure that one doesn't succumb to their infected wound(s).

As with any other disease, make sure that the patient is rested, well-fed, and treated whenever possible. A single infection will take multiple treatments, administered once every 12 hours, per infection. Infections progress very quickly, and missing or delaying a treatment can be a very costly mistake. Due to the rate at which infections progress, you'll want at least a competent doctor using herbal medicine or better in order to ensure that the affected person survives an infection.

Once you beat the infection, that value then begins to (slowly) drop back to "0", from where ever it was; no further treatment is necessary once this starts. However, better treatment quality results will stop the infection before it progresses to a higher value, saving recovery time for the patient, so the more bonuses you can scrape together* during treatment, the faster the recovery.

(* better Medical skill, better medicine, a clean room, a higher quality bed, upgrading to a hospital bed, adding a connected vitals monitor, etc. See Doctoring for more details.)

This disease is unique in that it only affects a specific, isolated body part, making infections curable by removing that part. It is not possible to amputate vital organs, though some can be replaced with artificial versions. It's (usually) better to have a colonist missing a part or two than to lose the colonist entirely, and there is no mood debuff if you remove an infected part. If the infection has progressed to over 97%, there is little to no chance your surgeons can successfully pull off an amputation in time, so plan accordingly. As with any operation, amputations (and organ replacements) can fail, leaving the infected part attached, so if you make the decision to do this, try to operate before 90% or earlier, so you have time to try again.

  • To amputate: Under the patient's Health tab is the Operations tab; "Add a bill" to amputate the infected body part. You may also have to/want to upgrade the patient's default "medicine" used for procedures - that's under their Health/Overview tab. If an arm/leg/kidney is the target, make sure to amputate the correct (left/right) part - surgeons just do what they're told.

Vulnerable

For those with a base immunity gain rate of 39% or less, there is no chance that they will be able to survive a wound infection normally, even with 100% treatment quality for all treatments and rest in a hospital bed with vitals monitor connected. This includes some people with kidney and liver damage (physical or chemical). A pawn with poor treatment or little rest may also be at risk of death.

To save the colonist, you can do the following:

  • Administer healer mech serum- instantly treats the infection
  • Administer luciferium- if pawn has 23% or more immunity gain speed remaining initially, this gives pawn a chance to survive
  • Amputation or part replacement
  • A biosculpter pod's medic cycle Content added by the Ideology DLC

Version history

At around Beta 18 infections caused a reduction in part efficiency, allowing them to kill much earlier than usual if a critically injured vital body part is infected and the infection causes the efficiency of that body part to drop below zero.


Disease
Deadly diseases
Flu • Infection • Lung rot • Malaria • Plague • Sleeping sickness • Organ decay • Blood rot Content added by the Royalty DLC • Infant illnessContent added by the Biotech DLC
Non-fatal diseases
Fibrous mechanites • Gut worms • Muscle parasites • Sensory mechanites • Paralytic abasia Content added by the Royalty DLC
Animal diseases
Scaria

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