Sepsis: Overview
Alternative names: Septicemia. The term septicemia is no longer used by the consensus committee.
Sepsis is a serious, rapidly progressing, life-threatening infection that can arise secondary to localized infections of the respiratory, genitourinary or gastrointestinal tract, or from the skin.
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It may precede or coincide with infections of the bone, central nervous system or other tissues.
Signs and Symptoms
Onset of sepsis is heralded by spiking fevers and chills, rapid breathing and heart rate, the outward appearance of being seriously ill (toxic) and a feeling of impending doom. These symptoms rapidly progress to shock with decreased body temperature (hypothermia), falling blood pressure, confusion or other changes in the mental status, and clotting abnormalities evidenced by hemorrhagic lesions in the skin.
Complications
Sepsis can rapidly lead to septic shock and death, being associated with organisms such as meningococci that can lead to shock, adrenal collapse and disseminated intravascular coagulation.
Signs, symptoms & indicators of Sepsis:
Lab Values - Cells
Symptoms - Metabolic
Risk factors for Sepsis:
Circulation
Endocarditis
Infection of the heart valve can spread through the bloodstream to other parts of the body, causing infection in the blood (septicemia) and in other parts of the body.
Organ Health
Consequences of Splenectomy
Certain bacteria, including pneumococcus and haemophilus, that are usually confined to local infections may become blood-borne (septic) and widespread in splenectomized persons. To avoid this potentially fatal situation, they are usually instructed to seek medical attention promptly for all fevers or obvious infections.
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Sepsis can lead to:
Lab Values
Neutrophilia
Inflammation, sepsis, necrosis, and immune-mediated disease can cause increased tissue demand and increased bone marrow release of neutrophils.
Neutropenia
Neutropenia can be caused by widespread, severe bacterial infection that causes pus formation or bacteria in the blood, which in turn leads to increased destruction of neutrophils.
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Health problems rarely occur in isolation or for obvious reasons
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Weak or unproven link:
may be a sign or symptom of; may increase risk of
Strong or generally accepted link:
is often a sign or symptom of; often increases risk of; often leads to
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suggests
Last updated: Aug 06, 2023