Sepsis

What is sepsis?

Sepsis is a life-threatening condition that happens when your body overreacts to an infection. Normally, your immune system fights infections to keep you healthy. But when you develop sepsis, the immune system goes into overdrive, causing widespread inflammation that can damage your organs.

Sepsis can start from any infection, like pneumonia, a urinary tract infection or a cut that gets infected. Symptoms may include fever or feeling very cold, fast heart rate, confusion, extreme weakness and difficulty breathing. 

Sepsis is a medical emergency - if you or someone you know has signs of it, get medical help immediately. If not treated quickly, sepsis can lead to serious complications like organ failure or even death.

Here’s what to know about sepsis, how it affects the body and what you can do if you suspect you or a loved one is at risk.

What causes sepsis?

Sepsis occurs when the body’s immune system overreacts in response to an infection. Any infection could lead to sepsis. Infections in these areas often cause sepsis:

• Lungs
• Urinary tract, including the bladder and kidneys 
• Blood
• Digestive system
• Wounds
• Burns
• Catheter locations

In a healthy person, the immune system releases chemicals to help combat infections from bacteria, viruses or fungi. 

With sepsis, the immune response is unbalanced and triggers inflammation. This response causes a chain reaction that affects many different organs, including the heart, kidneys and liver. 

In some cases, sepsis can lead to blood clotting, damage to blood vessels and reduced blood flow. It can make it harder for the organs to work the way they should. 

Signs and symptoms of sepsis

Recognizing the signs and symptoms of sepsis is important for getting the right care. Signs can vary from person to person and may be different in adults and in children. Early symptoms can be hard to spot, but they can get worse quickly and lead to complications without treatment.

Common signs of sepsis include:

• Rapid heart rate
• Low blood pressure, which can lead to dizziness, lightheadedness or fainting—a large drop in blood pressure is a key sign of sepsis
• Fever or hypothermia (low body temperature)
• Chills, shaking or shivering
• Rapid, shallow breathing or shortness of breath
• Fatigue, weakness or low energy
• Confusion, disorientation or other changes in thinking or mental status
• Agitation
• Discomfort or pain
• Cold, clammy skin or sweating for no obvious reason
• Symptoms of infection, such as a cough from pneumonia, painful urination from a UTI or redness and oozing from a surgical site

If you notice any of these symptoms in yourself or a loved one, especially if you know there’s an infection, seek immediate medical attention. Sepsis is a life-threatening medical emergency and seeking treatment as soon as possible is very important. The faster you get help, the more likely you are to survive and recover without organ failure or permanent tissue damage. 

How sepsis affects the body

Sepsis can cause inflammation, blood clotting and severe tissue and organ damage. When your immune system overreacts to an infection, your blood vessels may dilate (widen). That widening can cause a large drop in your blood pressure. 

Low blood pressure can limit the blood flow to your organs and make them fail. In severe cases, sepsis can lead to tissue damage or organ failure in your heart, kidneys and/or liver. 

Sepsis vs. septic shock

Sepsis can lead to septic shock, which is a more severe form of sepsis. While sepsis involves your response to infection, septic shock happens when the response becomes extreme. With septic shock, your organs can’t get the oxygen and nutrients they need to work like they should.

With septic shock, you may have symptoms such as extreme confusion and not being able to stand up or stay awake. You may have a large drop in blood pressure that damages your lungs, kidneys, liver and other organs. 

30% to 40% of people with septic shock will die from it, which is why treating it quickly is critical. Intensive care is usually needed to manage symptoms and blood pressure.

Risk factors: Who is at higher risk?

Certain medical conditions and factors can increase the risk of sepsis. Risk is higher for adults over age 65, babies and young children and those who have:

• Weakened immune systems from cancer, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), steroid treatments, those who have received an organ transplant or other conditions
• Chronic illnesses such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), kidney disease or diabetes 
• Taken antibiotics in the last three months
• Long hospital stays or are in an intensive care unit (ICU)
• IVs, catheters or breathing tubes
• Recently had surgery, especially if infected tissue or parts of an organ were removed

How sepsis is diagnosed

To diagnose sepsis, your provider may use physical exams, blood and lab tests and imaging studies:

• A physical exam can spot low blood pressure, fever and other signs of sepsis.
• Blood cultures can identify the bacteria or other germs that may be causing the infection. They may also spot blood clotting issues, low oxygen levels, electrolyte imbalances and liver or kidney function problems. 
• Urine, mucus, saliva or wound fluid samples can help identify the infection.
• Imaging tests, like X-rays, ultrasounds, CT scans or MRIs, can find the source of the infection. 

The earlier sepsis is diagnosed, the better the chances of a full recovery and the lower the risk of complications such as tissue damage or organ failure.

Treatment and care for sepsis

Sepsis treatment is tailored based on how severe your condition is and what type of infection is causing it. Treatment for sepsis usually involves:

• Fighting the infection with IV antibiotics
• Managing blood pressure with IV fluids and medication that increase your blood pressure Treating pain
• Medications to support the heart and other organs
• Stabilizing breathing with oxygen or a ventilator
• Maintaining blood flow to vital organs
• Dialysis, if the infection is affecting the way the kidneys work
• Preventing blood clots, infection and other complications

You may need surgery to remove infected tissue or organs and prevent the infection from spreading further. In severe cases, sepsis may lead to organ failure and you may need close monitoring and advanced treatment in an ICU.

The good news is, with proper and timely treatment, most people survive sepsis. 

Getting care

At Banner Health, we provide fast, effective care for people with sepsis and septic shock. Our health care professionals are experts in recognizing and treating sepsis quickly and minimizing the risk of complications. If you suspect you may have sepsis, contact Banner Health right away for advice and treatment.