Sepsis occurs when your body has a severe reaction in response to an infection from any microorganisms. It is a medical emergency and needs urgent treatment as it can cause tissue damage, organ failure, and eventually death.

Sepsis affects about 30 million people per year, and causes approximately between six and nine million deaths worldwide every year, most of which are preventable.[1]

Most infections can lead to sepsis. Among them includes common infections such as pneumonia, urinary infections, infections in the abdomen, skin or wound infections, or meningitis. Seasonal flu, malaria, dengue, Yellow fever and Ebola may all result in sepsis.[2]

More than 80% of infections leading to sepsis are contracted outside of the hospital. Anyone can get sepsis. As noted, sepsis is a medical emergency and must be treated quickly and correctly for survival.

Nonetheless, sepsis isn’t talked about very often, and when it is, it’s often incorrectly referred to as “blood poisoning.”[3] We hear stories of people dying of infections, but this is often due to sepsis. The reason people don’t hear about it is that the word is not often used.

Sepsis can be prevented by avoiding infection in the first place, which can be done through vaccination and basic hygiene. In order to prevent infection from leading to sepsis, it must be recognized quickly, and the source of the infection must be treated, including antibiotics. Early treatment of infections and early recognition of sepsis can save lives.

Based on the CDC’s “Get Ahead of Sepsis,”[4] signs and symptoms of sepsis can include any combination of:

- Confusion or disorientation

- Shortness of breath

- High heart rate

- High fever, or shivering, or feeling very cold

- Extreme pain or discomfort

- Clammy or sweaty skin

If left untreated, these symptoms can worsen and cause you to go into septic shock (a fall in blood pressure that stops blood getting to your vital organs). If you have an infection and experience any of these symptoms, visit your doctor immediately or go to an emergency room.

Survivors of sepsis may suffer from life-long consequences. To read some stories of survivors of sepsis, click here or go to https://www.sepsis.org/faces/

For more information about sepsis, please visit these sites:

World Sepsis Day, or go to https://www.world-sepsis-day.org/sepsis

Global Sepsis Alliance, or go to https://www.global-sepsis-alliance.org/sepsis/

Sepsis Alliance,or go to https://www.sepsis.org/faq/

Check out videos about sepsis: 

References

1 World Sepsis Day. (n.d.). Sepsis. Retrieved from https://www.world-sepsis-day.org/sepsis

2 Technology Networks. (n.d.). What is Sepsis? (Sepsis Explained in 3 Minutes). Retrieved from https://www.technologynetworks.com/diagnostics/videos/what-is-sepsis-sepsis-explained-in-3-minutes-308278

3 Sepsis Alliance. (n.d.). Frequently Asked Questions About Sepsis and Sepsis Alliance. Retrieved from https://www.sepsis.org/faq/

4 CDC. (2017, August 31). CDC urges early recognition, prompt treatment of sepsis. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2017/p0831-sepsis-recognition-treatment.html .