Key Highlights: 

• Sepsis is the body’s response to a severe infection. 
• Sepsis symptoms can change and are not easy to detect. 
• Infections like bacterial, viral, or fungal ones often cause sepsis. 
• Blood tests, imaging tests, and vital sign examinations help doctors diagnose sepsis. 
• Sepsis management includes medicines, intensive care support, and sometimes surgery. 
• Good hygiene, vaccination, and early infection detection help avoid sepsis. 
   

Introduction 

Sepsis is a dangerous condition. It occurs when the body’s immune system has reached its limit and becomes hyperactive. This causes inflammation all around the body and can damage vital organs. It needs urgent help. It can rapidly become worse and even end in death if not managed well.  

This article will describe sepsis in detail. We’ll discuss its stages, symptoms, causes, risks, and management options. We’ll also tell you how to stop sepsis from occurring by identifying it early. 

Understanding Sepsis 

What is Sepsis? 

Sepsis occurs when the body hyperreacts to an infection. This causes the body to damage its own tissues. If it’s not managed immediately, it can affect major organs, damage tissue, and even kill the patient. Sepsis usually comes from bacterial, viral, or fungal infections. Anyone can get it, but some people are more at risk. 

Sepsis Stages 

There are three phases of sepsis: 

1. The first phase is sepsis where an infection leads to inflammation all over the body. 

2. The next is severe sepsis which is harsher and leads to organ failure. 

3. The last phase is septic shock which can kill a person due to a sudden dip in blood pressure and vast tissue damage.  

Signs and Symptoms of Sepsis 

1. Phase one: Sepsis  

The symptoms of sepsis can differ a lot from person to person. It’s tough to detect them. The usual signs are as follows: 

• Chills and fever  
• Increased heart rate also called tachycardia 
• Breathlessness 
• Mental confusion 
• Pain or discomfort 
• Wet, cold skin 
   

If you think that you or someone else might have sepsis, it’s important to get help right away. 

2. Phase two: Severe sepsis  

Severe sepsis causes organ failure along with the symptoms above. Some signs of severe sepsis to look for are as follows.  

• Reduced urine output 
• Major changes in mental state 
• Issues with breathing or fast  breathing 
• Low blood pressure  
   

These symptoms mean sepsis has gotten worse and needs quick medical help. 

3. Last phase: Septic Shock Symptoms 

Septic shock is the most dangerous phase of sepsis. It can kill a person fast.  The following signs need to be looked out for to diagnose septic shock.   

• Very low blood pressure 
• Cold, pale, or blotchy skin 
• Fast heart rate and breathing problems 
• Loss of alertness and awareness 
   

Call for emergency medical help if you think someone has septic shock. 

Causes Of Sepsis  

Common Reasons for Sepsis 

Sepsis can come from a range of infections which are as follows.  

• Bacterial infections (like pneumonia or urinary tract infections) 
• Viral infections (like the flu or COVID-19) 
• Fungal infections (caused by Candida types) 

Any infection can lead to sepsis, but some infections are more prone to spiral into sepsis. 

Who is at Risk of Sepsis? 

• Demographics 

Some groups of the population are more likely to get sepsis. These include the following.  

• Older people (above 65 years) 
• Kids and babies 
• Those with pre-existing conditions like diabetes or cancer
• People with weak immune systems from HIV/AIDS or chemotherapy. 
   

Other Risk Factors 

There are other factors that can raise the risk of sepsis which are as follows:  

• Being in a hospital recently (leads to possible chance of infections). 
• Interventional medical procedures like catheterization, minor or major surgeries, etc.,  
• Poor hygiene, IV drug abusers, etc.   
   

How Do Doctors Detect Sepsis? 

1. Signs of Sepsis 

Detecting sepsis is not easy.  No one test can confirm the diagnosis. So, doctors have to be vigilant regarding the following indicators:  

• The patient’s current symptoms and their past illness record. 
• Vital signs like blood pressure, heart rate, and oxygen levels. 
• Laboratory tests (e.g., blood and urine  tests) 
   

2. Investigations Ordered by the Doctor  

•  Increased white blood cells indicate infection detected by carrying out a CBC test. 
• Checking for clotting issues by measuring the blood clotting time.  
• Seeing if the liver or kidneys are not working right by carrying out LFTs and RFTs. 
• Checking if there’s enough oxygen by using a pulse oximeter. 
• Detecting electrolyte imbalances by doing serum electrolytes test. 
   

3. Other Laboratory Tests that the Doctor Might Order  

Along with blood tests, they might use other laboratory tests to find where the infection might be.  

• Urine tests to find bacterial infections 
• Cultures from other body fluids (like spinal fluid or fluid from wounds) 
   

4. Imaging Tests to Detect Infection 

If they don’t spot the infection quickly, doctors might order advanced imaging tests like: 

• X-rays (to check lungs for infection) 
• Ultrasound (to see if the gallbladder or kidneys have infection) 
• CT scans (for infections in organs like the liver or pancreas) 
• MRI (to find bone or soft tissue infections) 
   

Managing Sepsis 

1. Medicines Help Beat Sepsis 

Medicines form a part of most sepsis management plans. These include: 

• Antibiotics to fight the infection. 
• Vasopressors or inotropes to narrow blood vessels and raise blood pressure, especially when blood pressure drops too low. 
• Corticosteroids to reduce the inflammation. 
   

2. Supportive Care Helps Manage Sepsis 

Patients with sepsis might also need supportive care like: 

• Oxygen support to make sure all body tissues get enough oxygen. 
• IV fluids to stay hydrated and keep blood pressure stable. 
• Kidney dialysis, if the kidneys are not fully functioning. 
   

3. When Might You Need Surgery for Sepsis? 

In some cases, doctors might need to do surgery to manage sepsis.  

• To remove infected tissues (like wound cleaning or limb removal). 
• Draining pus-filled lumps, even those deep inside the body. 
   

Getting Better After Sepsis 

• Getting Back to Health 

How you get better after sepsis depends on the person’s immunity status and how bad their condition was.  

• It might take weeks to get over the infection and inflammation. 
• There will be medical check-ups and therapy to track and control lasting effects or problems. 
   

• Problems Caused by Sepsis 

Sepsis can cause long-term problems: 

• Lasting damage to organs like the kidneys, heart, and lungs. 
• Getting infections again from a worn-down immune system or residual infection from the old infection. 
   

Prevent Sepsis  

• Stop Infections 

The first step to stopping sepsis is to stop infections which may be acquired by doing the following.  

• Maintain good hygiene (like washing hands and keeping your living area clean). 
• Get vaccinated to protect against usual bacterial or viral infections. 
• Take care of wounds by cleaning and covering them. 
   

•  Detect and Manage Infections Early 

 Identifying and managing an infection early may stop sepsis before it starts. Sepsis can be avoided by implementing the following steps.  

• Know the early symptoms of infections. 
• Get medical help as soon as possible. 
• Finish all the medication your doctor gives you as they direct. 
   

Conclusion 

Sepsis is a harsh, life- threatening condition. It occurs when the body’s immune system is hyperactive while fighting infection, resulting in damage to the body’s own tissues. It’s important to know its symptoms, causes, and stages. This makes it easier to  detect sepsis and get the medical care it needs. Factors that help reduce the chances of getting sepsis are  maintaining hygiene, getting  vaccinated, and watching out for infection signs. 

The most important factor is to see and manage sepsis as early as possible. If we can reduce how often sepsis occurs and affects us, we’ll be doing our communities a huge favor. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) 

References: 

1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Technical Resources & Guidelines [Internet]. [cited 2024 Apr 2]. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/sepsis/datareports/index.html 

2. National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). The Third International Consensus Definitions for Sepsis and Septic 
   Shock (Sepsis-3) – PMC [Internet]. [cited 2024 Apr 2]. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4968574 

3. National Health Service (NHS). Symptoms – Sepsis [Internet]. [cited 2024 Apr 2]. Available from: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/sepsis 

4. National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). Sepsis, severe sepsis and septic shock: changes in incidence, pathogens, and outcomes – PMC [Internet]. [cited 2024 Apr 2]. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3488423 

5. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). What is Sepsis? [Internet]. [cited 2024 Apr 2]. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/sepsis/what-is-sepsis.html 

6. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). How is Sepsis Diagnosed and Treated? [Internet]. [cited 2024 Apr 2]. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/sepsis/diagnosis/index.html 

7. National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). Severe sepsis and septic shock in the elderly: An overview – PMC [Internet]. [cited 2024 Apr 2]. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3956061 

8. National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). The Third International Consensus Definitions for Sepsis and Septic Shock (Sepsis-3) [Internet]. [cited 2024 Apr 2]. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26903338 

9. National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). Challenges with Diagnosing and Managing Sepsis in Older Adults – PMC [Internet]. [cited 2024 Apr 2]. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4804629 

10. National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). Sepsis in patients hospitalized with coronavirus disease 2019: how often and how severe? – PMC [Internet]. [cited 2024 Apr 2]. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8452249 

11. The Lancet. <img src=”https://www.thelancet.com/favicon.ico” alt=”Icon for www.thelancet.com”>www.thelancet.com [Internet]. [cited 2024 Apr 2]. Available from: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(19)32989-7/fulltext 

12. World Health Organization (WHO). Sepsis [Internet]. [cited 2024 Apr 2]. Available from: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/sepsis 

13. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Sepsis [Internet]. [cited 2024 Apr 2]. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/sepsis/index.html 

14. National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). Neonatal sepsis – PMC [Internet]. [cited 2024 Apr 2]. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/labs/pmc/articles/PMC3916371 

15. National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). The Clinical Challenge of Sepsis Identification and Monitoring – PMC [Internet]. [cited 2024 Apr 2]. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4871479 

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