The organs more frequently affected are kidneys, liver, lungs, heart, central nervous system, and hematologic system. This multiple organ failure is the hallmark of sepsis and determines patients' course from infection to recovery or death.
Sepsis is a life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection (3). If not recognized early and managed promptly, it can lead to septic shock, multiple organ failure and death.
Organ failure, including kidney failure, is a hallmark of sepsis. As the body is overwhelmed, its organs begin to shut down, causing even more problems. The kidneys are often among the first to be affected.
Severe sepsis is defined as sepsis associated with organ dysfunction, hypotension or hyperfusion. Hypoperfusion abnormalities of end organs may include lactataemia, oliguria or an alteration in mental status.
Septic shock is the most severe level and is diagnosed when your blood pressure drops to dangerous levels.
Ideally, these clinical criteria should identify all the elements of sepsis (infection, host response, and organ dysfunction), be simple to obtain, and be available promptly and at a reasonable cost or burden.
Stage 2: Severe Sepsis
Decreased urination. Change in mental status. Low platelet (blood clotting cells) count. Patches of discolored skin.
Audio for Sepsis
Sepsis occurs when a bacterial, viral, or fungal infection causes a significant response from the body's immune system, causing a high heart rate, fever, or fast breathing. Severe sepsis develops when the infection causes organ damage.
The risk of dying from sepsis increases by as much as 8% for every hour of delayed treatment. On average, approximately 30% of patients diagnosed with severe sepsis do not survive.
Sepsis was once commonly known as “blood poisoning.” It was almost always deadly. Today, even with early treatment, sepsis kills about 1 in 5 affected people. It causes symptoms such as fever, chills, rapid breathing, and confusion. Anyone can get sepsis, but the elderly, children, and infants are most vulnerable.
As the body heals, the kidneys may begin functioning again. But in many cases, organ damage is permanent.
The infection-fighting processes turn on the body, causing the organs to work poorly. Sepsis may progress to septic shock. This is a dramatic drop in blood pressure that can damage the lungs, kidneys, liver and other organs. When the damage is severe, it can lead to death.
Septic shock, the most severe complication of sepsis, carries a high mortality. Septic shock occurs in response to an inciting agent, which causes both pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory immune system activation.
Septic shock: Septic shock is the last stage of sepsis and is defined by extremely low blood pressure, despite lots of IV (intravenous) fluids.
A 2018 retrospective analysis of more than 2 million U.S. sepsis hospitalizations reported that the median length of stay (LOS) for sepsis increased with disease severity ranging from 7.7 days, 10 days, and 12.6 days for sepsis, severe sepsis and septic shock, respectively.
You may need to stay in hospital for several weeks.
a high temperature (fever) or low body temperature. a change in mental state – like confusion or disorientation. slurred speech. cold, clammy and pale or mottled skin.
severe muscle pain. severe breathlessness. not urinating for a day. cold, clammy and pale or mottled skin, or grey (ashen) appearance.
After sepsis, the most common immediate causes of death were progressive cancer (92 of 568 [16.2%]) and heart failure (39 of 568 [6.9%]).
Sepsis can develop quickly from initial infection and progress to septic shock in as little as 12 to 24 hours.1 You may have an infection that's not improving or you could even be sick without realizing it.
Severe sepsis symptoms can include: Changes in skin color, or patches of discolored skin. Low or no urine output. Disorientation, drowsiness, changes in mental ability, loss of consciousness.
High heart rate or weak pulse. Fever, shivering, or feeling very cold. Confusion or disorientation. Shortness of breath.
Early symptoms include fever and feeling unwell, faint, weak, or confused. You may notice your heart rate and breathing are faster than usual. If it's not treated, sepsis can harm your organs, make it hard to breathe, and mess up your thinking.
In a typical year: At least 1.7 million adults in America develop sepsis. At least 350,000 adults who develop sepsis die during their hospitalization or are discharged to hospice.
NICE - the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence - urges hospital staff to treat people with life-threatening sepsis within one hour, in its quality standard. In clinical practice, this is often referred to as the 'golden hour' after diagnosis.