What is sepsis?
Sepsis is a serious reaction to an infection. It causes inflammation across large areas of the body and can damage tissue and organs.
Sepsis can develop very quickly. It requires immediate care in a hospital.
Infections that can lead to sepsis include:
- A skin infection such as from a cut.
- A lung infection like pneumonia.
- A urinary tract infection.
- A gut infection such as E. coli.
Symptoms can include low blood pressure, breathing problems, fast heartbeat, and confusion. Other symptoms include fever or low body temperature, chills, cool clammy skin, skin rashes, and shaking. Sepsis can cause problems in many organs.
Septic shock is sepsis that causes extremely low blood pressure, which limits blood flow to the body. It can cause organ failure and death.
What are the symptoms of sepsis?
Sepsis causes varied symptoms. Symptoms may include breathing problems, a fast heartbeat, chills, cool clammy skin, skin rashes, and shaking. Other symptoms may include a fever or low body temperature, confusion, and low blood pressure. If you are concerned about sepsis, go to the hospital immediately.
How is sepsis 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?
Doctors will treat the person with antibiotics. They will try to find the infection that led to sepsis.
Machines will track the person’s vital signs, including temperature, blood pressure, breathing rate, and pulse rate. The person will get fluids through an IV. He or she may also get strong medicine. This can help raise the blood pressure.
If a person with sepsis is very sick, equipment in the ICU can support many body systems. That includes breathing, circulation, fluids, and help for organs like the kidneys and heart. If the person needs help breathing, a ventilator may be used.
How can you care for yourself when you have sepsis?
- Be safe with medicines. Take your medicines exactly as prescribed. Call your doctor if you think you are having a problem with your medicine.
- If your doctor prescribed antibiotics, take them as directed. Do not stop taking them just because you feel better. You need to take the full course of antibiotics.
- Help prevent future infections.
- Avoid infections such as COVID-19, colds, and the flu. Wash your hands often. Stay up to date on your COVID-19 vaccines. And get a flu vaccine every year.
- Ask your doctor if you need a pneumococcal vaccine (to prevent pneumonia, meningitis, and other infections). If you have had one before, ask your doctor if you need another dose.
- Clean any wounds or scrapes.
- Drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration.
- Eat a healthy diet. Include fruits, vegetables, and whole grains in your diet every day.
- If your doctor recommends it, try doing some physical activity.
Sepsis: When to call
Call 911 anytime you think you may need emergency care. For example, call if:
- You passed out (lost consciousness).
Call your doctor now or seek immediate medical care if:
- You have symptoms such as:
- Shortness of breath.
- Feeling very sick.
- Severe pain.
- A fast heart rate.
- Cool, pale, or clammy skin.
- Feeling confused.
- Feeling very sleepy, or you are hard to wake up.
- You are dizzy or lightheaded, or you feel like you may faint.
- You have a fever or chills.
Watch closely for changes in your health, and be sure to contact your doctor if:
- You do not get better as expected.
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