Sepsis is a life threatening illness that develops when an existing infection triggers an extreme immune system response in your body.

When you experience an infection, your immune system releases proteins and other chemicals to fight it. Sepsis occurs when this response gets out of control, triggering extensive inflammation.

There are approximately 1.7 million cases Trusted Source of sepsis each year in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It’s also responsible for nearly 350,000 deaths.

Sepsis is an extreme immune response to an infection. In a person with sepsis, the immune system can injure tissues and organs, and it can be life threatening.

Sepsis may be a response to an infection that develops in the skin, lungs, urinary tract, or another part of the body.

A common cause is septicemia, a bacterial infection in the blood. Sometimes people confuse the terms “sepsis” and “septicemia,” but they are different issues.

Anyone with an infection who develops the following sepsis symptoms needs urgent medical attention:

• A fever, chills, and shivering
• Clammy or sweaty skin
• Difficulty breathing
• Extreme pain or discomfort
• Rapid pulse, also known as tachycardia
• Redness or other color changes and swelling around a wound

When sepsis is severe, it can also cause:

• A feeling of a feeling of doom or sudden fear of death
• Cool, pale skin at the extremities
• Dizziness or faintness
• Low urine volume
• Pale, discolored, or mottled skin
• Skin that feels unusually warm or cold, as with a fever
• Confusion, reduced alertness, and other changes in the person’s mental state
• Slurred speech
• Diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting
• Severe pain and extreme general discomfort
• Shortness of breath
• Loss of consciousness

As sepsis progresses, septic shock can occur. This involves blood pressure falling dangerously low, meaning that oxygen can no longer reach the body’s organs.

Older adults and younger children have a particularly high risk of sepsis, and they are also more likely to experience a rapid worsening of sepsis symptoms. However, the issue can be harder to spot in these age groups.

Symptoms can also be harder to identify in people with:

• Communication problems
• Dementia
• Learning difficulties

When a person requests medical help, the healthcare professional needs to know about:

• any symptoms
• Recent infections, traumas, or surgical procedures
• If the patient has a compromised immune system
• Whether the person has diabetes or any other chronic condition

This may help speed up the diagnosis and allow for more rapid treatment.

Causes of Sepsis

Sepsis can affect anyone with an infection, but the risk is higher for:

• Adults older than 65
• Babies under 1 year of age
• Patients with weakened immune systems
• Individuals with chronic illnesses, such as diabetes, lung disease, and cancer
• Women who are pregnant or postpartum
• Individuals who have had sepsis before
• People who have had a recent severe illnesses, undergone surgery, or been admitted to hospital

Vulnerability to sepsis is increasing. One reason for this may be antibiotic resistance, a term that refers to microbes becoming immune to drugs that once controlled many infections.

A doctor diagnoses sepsis by:

1. Taking a medical history, including details of any recent infections or other events
2. Evaluating blood pressure, temperature, heart rate, and other signs
3. Recording the patient’s symptoms
4. Performing a physical examination
5. Doing laboratory tests to identify the infection

While it is essential to treat sepsis as soon as possible, early diagnosis can be challenging. Many symptoms, such as a high fever, occur with other conditions.

A doctor will provide rapid treatment for sepsis, including:

• Administering antibiotics, if the infection is bacterial
• Providing oxygen and intravenous fluids to ensure blood flow to the organs
• Treating the cause of the infection
• Providing a means of assisted breathing, if appropriate
• Scheduling surgery, if necessary, to remove damaged tissue

Sepsis often requires treatment in a hospital, and some people need intensive care.

Older people, in particular, may also need treatment to:

• Avoid pressure ulcers
• Control glucose levels
• Prevent deep vein thrombosis

Some severe cases of sepsis or septic shock do not respond to all disease-directed therapies. In these instances, healthcare professionals may need to provide end-of-life care.

Taking steps to prevent infections and receiving prompt treatment for any that arise can reduce the risk of sepsis.

Other strategies include:

• Getting routine vaccinations, including those for the flu and pneumonia
• Following handwashing guidelines
• Taking steps to prevent sores and wounds and keeping any that occur clean
• Seeking immediate medical attention if there are signs of an infection worsening

Outlook of Sepsis

Most people recover from sepsis with treatment. However, it can have a long-term effect on a person’s health, especially if it has damaged organs or the immune system.

The mortality rate for sepsis in the United States varies by severity, as the table below shows:

Death rates increase with age and are about five times higher for adults aged 85 and over.

Summary

Sepsis happens when the immune system has an extreme reaction to an infection. Early signs include a fever, difficulty breathing, and a rapid heartbeat.

Early treatment for sepsis is often effective, but it can progress and become harder to treat quickly.

Treat any infection right away, seek professional care if an infection worsens, and if signs of sepsis occur, go to an emergency room at once.