Sepsis, an extreme response to an infection, sends 1.7 million Americans to the hospital every year. Nearly 350,000 people die or are discharged to hospice because of this life-threatening medical emergency. Because sepsis happens when an active infection triggers a chain reaction throughout your body, it’s critical to recognize sepsis so you can get treatment quickly.
“Sepsis is when your body’s immune response to an infection goes into overdrive,” says Dr. Kyle Martin, Medical Director of Emergency Medicine at SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital - Madison. “It starts hurting you more than helping you get over the infection. It can cause multiple organs to fail. It’s also known as blood poisoning or septicemia. Without treatment, it can lead to tissue damage, organ failure and death.”
Sepsis symptoms include:
- loss of consciousness
- severe breathlessness
- a high temperature (fever) or low body temperature
- a change in mental state – like confusion or disorientation
- slurred speech
- clammy and pale or mottled skin
- a fast heartbeat
- fast breathing
“Bacterial infections cause most cases of sepsis, but it can be the result of other infections, including viral infections like COVID-19 or flu, or fungal infections,” says Dr. Martin. “Really, anyone can get it, but when you’re older you’re more at risk. Pregnant women and also people with compromised immune systems are too, either because of treatments and medications that they’re undergoing or other reasons that their immune systems might not respond as well.”
Fast treatment is key to survival because sepsis can get worse quickly. If you think you or a loved one has sepsis, get medical care immediately. Ask your doctor “could this infection be leading to sepsis?” and ask them if you should go to the emergency department. If you have a medical emergency, call 9-1-1. If you think you or your loved one have sepsis, tell the operator.
Dr. Martin says, "The best way to prevent sepsis is to prevent an infection in the first place You can start by getting vaccinated and taking the full course of medications your doctor prescribes if you do get sick."
