Sepsis is an emergency blood infection that can lead to death within hours without proper treatment.
Sepsis occurs when the body has an extreme immunological reaction to an infection. In time, this reaction can cause changes in heart rate, blood pressure, and temperature. It can also cause organ damage and shock.
A virus, bacteria, or fungus can trigger sepsis (blood poisoning), and can be present anywhere on the body.
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Sepsis or blood poisoning is a life-threatening extreme response to an infection you already have.
In the U.S., about 1.7 million people get sepsis each year.
It's a leading cause of death in hospitals each year in the U.S., claiming about 250,000 lives. Anywhere from one-third to one-half of people who die in the hospital have sepsis.
According to the Physician-Patient Alliance for Health & Safety, sepsis can progress quickly, causing death in as little as 12 hours. Sepsis Alliance states, the risk of death increases by 7.6% for every hour that passes without treatment.
Urgent treatment for blood poisoning is essential. Getting a fast, correct diagnosis can be the difference between life and death.
Sepsis starts with an infection. The infection could begin with any kind of germ, but certain bacteria are more often the cause of sepsis than other germs.
Four types of infections more likely to lead to sepsis compared to other types of infections are:
Some people have a greater risk than others of getting sepsis after an infection.
About 90% of adults and 70% of children who got sepsis had a condition that put them at greater risk for it.
People with a higher risk include those who:
If a person doesn't receive a sepsis diagnosis early enough, they're much less likely to survive.
The best way to save someone from dying from sepsis is to notice the symptoms quickly and get treatment right away.
The best way to prevent sepsis is to prevent getting an infection.
There are four major things you can do to reduce the risk of an infection:
The first sign of sepsis may be an unusually high or low temperature, shaking, or chills. Seek medical treatment right away if you have any of the symptoms below, especially if you've had a recent infection.
The six main symptoms of sepsis are:
If you see someone with many or all of these symptoms, take them to the emergency department or call 911 right away. This is especially crucial if the person is high risk or has an infection.
If you have some of these symptoms but are low risk and don't have a known infection, you should call your doctor.
Back to topTo diagnose sepsis, a health care provider must see you in person. They'll:
UPMC's providers all have training in knowing the signs of sepsis and for acting quickly to diagnose and treat it.
The goal of treating sepsis is to cure the infection causing it to help the immune system return to normal. Sepsis treatment will also try to stop organ damage from occurring.
We may give you an IV with antibiotics to treat an infection caused by bacteria.
Some common side effects from antibiotics are:
Some people have allergies to certain types of antibiotics or other medications. Make sure your doctor knows this so they can find treatments that are safe for you.
One possible serious side effect of antibiotics is C. diff — a bacterial infection. It occurs because antibiotics can kill off "good" bacteria in your body that normally protect it against C. diff.
According to the CDC, the risk of C. diff is seven to 10 times higher when taking antibiotics.
The most common symptom of C. diff is severe, watery diarrhea at least three times a day. Some people report having severe diarrhea up to 10 to 15 times a day.
Other common symptoms of C. diff are:
If you're taking antibiotics and have any of these symptoms, let a doctor or nurse know right away.
Antibiotics that most often cause C. diff are:
If the infection came from a virus or other germ, doctors will only give you antiviral drugs that can fight that germ. Antibiotics don't help viral infections.
Side effects from antiviral drugs vary by drug, but some common ones are:
Ask your doctor about possible side effects of the antiviral drug they give you.
Tell your doctor if you have severe side effects, such as:
If someone with sepsis has trouble getting enough oxygen to all of their organs, doctors may give them:
If advanced sepsis caused kidney damage, you may need dialysis to help do the kidneys' job.
Some people may also need a breathing tube or surgery to remove infected or damaged tissue.
Sepsis is a very serious condition but with prompt treatment, recovery is possible. Your odds of making a complete recovery improve when doctors recognize blood poisoning and act quickly. But it may take months or even years to fully rebound from a blood infection.
Your recovery may depend on:
Without treatment, most people who go into septic shock — the final stage of sepsis — will die. Merck Manual says, even with treatment, 30% to 40% of people who progress to septic shock die.
According to Sepsis Alliance, some communities have a higher rate of septic shock deaths. Black and Hispanic children are 25% more likely to die from sepsis than non-Hispanic White children. American Indians and Alaskan Native people are 1.6 times more likely to die from sepsis than the national average.
People who recover from sepsis are at risk for complications in the months and years that follow. Possible long-term complications of blood poisoning include:
People who've had sepsis in the past are more likely to develop it again. So, it’s especially important to act quickly if you get another infection that could lead to sepsis.
There are things you can do to heal physically and emotionally from sepsis, such as:
If you have sepsis, you’ll need to stay in the hospital until your condition is stable — likely around two weeks. But that can vary greatly depending on your age, overall health, and any complications you experienced.
Your doctor can answer questions based on the specifics of your condition, and when you'll be able to go home.
Back to topLast reviewed by Varidhi Nauriyal MD 2024-04-02.
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