Sepsis is a potentially life-threatening condition that occurs when the body's immune system has an extreme or dysregulated response to an infection, causing injury to its own tissues and organs. It can lead to organ dysfunction, shock, multiple organ failure, and death if not recognized early and treated promptly. Common signs include fever, increased heart rate, rapid breathing, confusion, and body pain. The infection that causes sepsis can be bacterial, viral, fungal, or parasitic, with bacteria being the most common cause. Sepsis often starts from infections in the lungs, brain, urinary tract, skin, or abdominal organs. It happens when the body’s defense system can no longer contain the infection locally, and the inflammatory response spreads throughout the body causing damage to organs and circulatory collapse.

What causes sepsis?

• Most frequently caused by bacterial infections, including gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria.
• Viral, fungal, and parasitic infections can also lead to sepsis.
• Common infection sites include lungs, abdominal infections, urinary tract, skin, and soft tissues.
• Risk factors include very young and elderly age, weakened immune system, chronic diseases such as diabetes and cancer, major trauma, burns, and recent surgery or medical procedures.

Sepsis is a medical emergency that requires prompt diagnosis and treatment to prevent serious complications and death.