Sepsis

Sepsis is your body’s overwhelming response to an infection. It happens when an infection you already have triggers a serious chain reaction throughout your body.

When you have an infection, your immune system normally tries to fight it. But sometimes, your immune system overreacts. It starts damaging healthy tissues and organs by mistake. This can cause widespread inflammation throughout your body.

Sepsis is a life-threatening medical emergency. Without urgent treatment, it can lead to tissue damage, multiple organ failure and death.

How long does it take to die from sepsis?

Sepsis can lead to septic shock, which can cause death in as little as 12 hours.

What are the different stages of sepsis?

Healthcare providers used to organize sepsis into three distinct stages: sepsis, severe sepsis and septic shock. Now they divide the condition into sepsis and septic shock. They use the number of organs damaged by sepsis to indicate its severity.

Bacteremia vs. sepsis

Bacteremia means you have bacteria in your bloodstream. Sepsis occurs when your immune system overreacts to an infection. It attacks healthy tissues, causes inflammation and can be life-threatening.

Sepsis symptoms

Sepsis can affect many different areas of your body. So, there are many possible symptoms. If a bloodstream infection (bacteremia) triggered the condition, you may develop a sepsis rash. The rash makes your skin appear red or discolored. You may see small, dark-red spots on your skin.

Other common signs of sepsis include:

• Peeing less, or having strong urges to pee
• Low energy and weakness
• Fast heart rate
• Low blood pressure
• Fever or very low body temperature
• Shaking or chills
• Warm or clammy/sweaty skin
• Confusion
• Rapid breathing or shortness of breath
• Extreme pain or discomfort

What causes sepsis?

Bacterial infections are the most common cause of sepsis. Fungal, parasitic and viral infections are also potential sepsis causes. You can get sepsis when an infection triggers a chain reaction throughout your body that causes organ dysfunction.

The infection leading to sepsis can start in many different parts of your body. Common sites and types of infections that can lead to sepsis include:

• Respiratory system: Infections involving your lungs, like pneumonia
• Urinary tract system: Infections of your bladder or kidneys, especially if you have a catheter
• Gastrointestinal system: Infections of your appendix (appendicitis), abdominal cavity (peritonitis), gallbladder or liver
• Central nervous system: Infections of your brain or spinal cord
• Skin: Infections involving your skin or your skin’s connective tissue, like cellulitis

Is sepsis contagious?

Sepsis itself isn’t contagious — you can’t spread it to other people. But you can spread the infections that can cause sepsis.

Risk factors

Sepsis can affect anyone. But you’re more likely to develop it if you:

• Are age 65 or older
• Are pregnant
• Have certain medical conditions, like diabetes, obesity, cancer or kidney disease
• Have a weakened immune system
• Are in the hospital for other medical reasons
• Have severe injuries, like large burns or wounds
• Have catheters, IVs or breathing tubes

Newborns and infants are another at-risk group.

Sepsis criteria

If you have an infection or bacteremia, a healthcare provider may quickly assess your risk of developing sepsis and dying from it. Providers use various sets of sepsis criteria to figure out your risk of death and how urgently you need treatment.

Some healthcare organizations use alert systems or artificial intelligence (AI) to find sepsis symptoms hours before traditional tests.

After the provider assesses your risk, they may confirm a sepsis diagnosis using a combination of findings. They’ll perform a physical exam and evaluate your symptoms. Then, they’ll order tests to identify the infection and any organ damage or dysfunction. These tests may include:

• Blood tests
• Urine tests
• Imaging tests

Is sepsis curable?

Yes. With early diagnosis and treatment, sepsis is curable. But many factors can affect your prognosis (outlook), including your overall health and the severity of the condition.

How do you treat sepsis?

Sepsis treatment needs to start immediately. If your provider diagnoses you with the condition, they may send you to the intensive care unit (ICU) of the hospital for special treatment.

Sepsis treatments may include:

• Antibiotics: You’ll receive antibiotics if you have a bacterial infection.
• IV (intravenous) fluids: You’ll need fluids to maintain blood flow to your organs. The fluids will also help prevent your blood pressure from dropping too low.
• Vasopressors: Vasopressor medications tighten blood vessels. In some cases, you may need them to help reach a normal blood pressure.
• Supportive care: If organ failure occurs, you’ll need other sepsis treatments. This may include dialysis for kidney failure or mechanical ventilation for respiratory failure.
• Surgery: You may need surgery to remove damaged tissue.

What will recovery be like if I survive sepsis?

If you survive sepsis, you’ll more than likely need rehabilitation before returning home. Your body has been through a lot. Healthcare providers will help restore your health. You’ll slowly learn how to take care of yourself again.

Even just sitting up and standing may be hard at first, depending on your condition. You’ll work with a provider to get your body up and moving. You’ll practice getting yourself to the bathroom and bathing yourself. Once you’ve regained your strength and restored your mobility, you’ll be able to go home.

What will happen when I get home?

You’ll need to give your body and mind time to recover. When you get home, you may have some unpleasant symptoms. Some people develop a condition called post-sepsis syndrome. Physical effects may include:

• Extreme tiredness and weakness
• Shortness of breath
• Body aches
• Joint and muscle pains
• Trouble moving around
• Lack of appetite and/or weight loss
• Dry, itchy skin
• Brittle nails
• Hair loss

Mental and emotional effects may include:

• Wanting to be alone
• Flashbacks
• Poor concentration
• Anxiety and/or depression
• Frustration and anger
• Confusion
• Insomnia
• Nightmares or hallucinations
• Panic attacks

You’re also at a higher risk of developing sepsis again. So, make sure to have any new infections treated immediately.

What can I do at home to help in my recovery?

Your healthcare provider will help you develop a plan to continue in your recovery. At first, you’ll work on small, achievable goals like bathing and dressing. You’ll work to rebuild your physical strength. But it’ll also be important to take care of your mental health. Talk to your family, friends and providers about how you’re feeling. It’ll take some time. But eventually, you should start to feel like yourself again.

What is the prognosis for sepsis?

With quick diagnosis and treatment, many people with mild sepsis survive. Without treatment, most people with the most advanced stage of sepsis (septic shock) will die. Even with treatment, up to half of all people with septic shock will die.

What is the life expectancy after sepsis?

Many people die in the months and years after surviving sepsis. But researchers don’t know if the increased risk of death is due to previously having sepsis or having an underlying health condition.

Because of this and other factors, research studies show varying rates of life expectancy after sepsis. These rates range widely. But they typically show that more than half of all sepsis survivors die within five years.

But each case is unique. Stay in close contact with your healthcare team so you can catch any health issues early.

Can sepsis be prevented?

Steps you can take to help prevent sepsis include:

• Practicing good hygiene, including handwashing
• Keeping cuts and other wounds clean and covered until they heal
• Getting routine medical care for chronic conditions
• Getting medical attention immediately if you think you have an infection