What is sepsis?
Sepsis is a serious, life-threatening reaction to an infection. It causes inflammation across large areas of the body and can damage tissue and organs. Sepsis needs emergency medical treatment in a hospital. Septic shock is sepsis that causes extremely low blood pressure, which limits blood flow to the body. It can cause death.
What causes it?
Most of the time, sepsis is caused by a bacterial infection. It can also be caused by a fungal or viral infection.
Infections that can lead to sepsis include:
- A skin infection such as from a cut.
- A lung infection like pneumonia.
- A urinary tract infection (UTI).
- An infection in the organs or intestines of the belly, such as E. coli.
Sepsis can occur in people of any age. But it's more common in infants, older adults, people who have health conditions that make it hard to fight infection, and people who are pregnant. Sepsis can develop very quickly.
What are the symptoms?
Sepsis is serious and causes many different symptoms. Symptoms may include breathing problems, a fast heartbeat, cool clammy skin, a fever, shivering, or feeling very cold. Other symptoms may include confusion, pain, and feeling faint (from low blood pressure). If you have symptoms of sepsis, go to the hospital right away for medical treatment.
How is it diagnosed?
Your doctor will ask you about your symptoms and do tests, including blood tests. You may get an imaging test, such as an X-ray or CT scan, to help find the infection.
How is sepsis treated?
Sepsis is treated with medicines to fight the infection that led to sepsis.
Machines will track vital signs, including temperature, blood pressure, breathing rate, and pulse rate. You'll get fluids through a vein (intravenous, I.V.). You may also get other medicines to help with your blood pressure and pulse.
You might need to be treated in an intensive care unit (ICU) for several days or weeks so you can be closely monitored.
Equipment in the ICU can support your body. That includes your breathing, blood flow, fluids, and help for organs like the kidneys and heart. If you need help breathing, a ventilator may be used.
How can you prevent it?
Here are some ways to help prevent infections that could lead to sepsis:
- Avoid infections such as COVID-19, colds, and the flu. Wash your hands often. Stay up-to-date with all your vaccines.
- Get a pneumococcal vaccine (to prevent pneumonia, meningitis, and other infections). If you have had one before, ask your doctor if you need another dose.
- Avoid sick people and crowds. If you have to be in a crowded area, wear a mask.
- Clean any wounds or scrapes.
- Do not smoke, vape, or use other tobacco or nicotine products. When you quit, you are less likely to get a cold, the flu, bronchitis, and pneumonia. If you need help quitting, talk to your doctor about stop-smoking programs and medicines. These can increase your chances of quitting for good.
- If you have a chronic health problem, ask your doctor if you should take extra precautions. Talk with your doctor about ways to manage your risk.
