Sepsis is a life-threatening medical emergency that happens when a person\u2019s body overreacts to an infection. It triggers a rapid, overwhelming inflammatory response that can result in organ failure.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not really the infection itself, but rather the body\u2019s response to that infection,\u201d said Dr. Brien Barnewolt, chair emeritus of emergency medicine at Tufts Medical Center<\/a>.<\/p>\n Organ dysfunction brought on by sepsis can cause a range of symptoms affecting different parts of the body. Early symptoms can start as subtle discomfort at the site of the infection, Barnewolt said. Lung infections like pneumonia can cause cough. A urinary tract infection can lead to frequent urination. Abdominal infections can start with stomach pain.<\/p>\n As sepsis progresses, the symptoms can grow more severe. Dr. Shira Doron, chief infection control officer for Tufts Medicine, said she can picture \u201cfrom head to toe, all of the things that can go awry\u201d with sepsis. Symptoms include confusion, loss of consciousness, shallow breathing, fever, chills, and low blood pressure.<\/p>\n A patient\u2019s blood test results can help doctors diagnose the condition, Doron added. In severe cases, low body temperature can lead to hypothermia.<\/p>\n How dangerous is sepsis, and why?<\/p>\n Depending on the severity of the infection, the number of bacteria or viruses involved, and the host\u2019s response, the onset can be very quick and dangerous.<\/p>\n Sepsis requires immediate medical treatment to prevent septic shock and death. Septic shock is the combination of organ failure with abnormally low blood pressure, Barnewolt said.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s this vicious circling in a downward spiral that, unless someone jumps in and intervenes in a very rapid fashion, can result in death,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Anyone can contract sepsis from an infection, Doron said. Certain pathogens are more likely to result in sepsis, namely bacteria.<\/p>\n \u201cI know that for any individual out there, they may not have had it or seen it,\u201d Doron said. \u201cBut for us in the hospital, we are absolutely seeing it every day, multiple times a day.\u201d<\/p>\n However, certain individuals are at higher risk. Immunocompromised individuals, such as the elderly or those with preexisting conditions, may be more likely to develop sepsis when they get an infection. Certain medications can trigger a stronger inflammatory response, Barnewolt said.<\/p>\n Can a younger, healthy person contract sepsis out of the blue? <\/p>\n While uncommon, doctors do see cases like Adam\u2019s. Barneholt recalled treating a 40-year-old male patient who \u201cdeveloped sepsis right in front of my eyes\u201d after being diagnosed with a bacterial infection. <\/p>\n The patient survived. But Barnewolt said that recovery can depend on how long sepsis progresses before treatment, whether the patient has underlying conditions, and the rate at which inflammatory markers in the body escalate and lead to various septic responses.<\/p>\n Sepsis can be difficult to identify in the hospital because its early signs mimic many other conditions.<\/p>\n \u201cAll of us are always looking for patients who might have sepsis,\u201d Barnewolt said, noting high-risk populations in particular. However, \u201ca young, healthy person would be easy to miss.\u201d<\/p>\n Unfortunately, identifying sepsis early does not guarantee survival.<\/p>\n \u201cWe try to catch it early, because every minute counts with sepsis,\u201d Doron said. \u201cThat being said, sometimes no matter how quickly you catch it, we say, \u2018The cat is out of the bag.\u2019 That inflammatory response can go haywire, and even early antibiotics can\u2019t save everybody from sepsis.\u201d<\/p>\n Taking steps to prevent infection can help prevent sepsis. Practice proper hygiene, and see a doctor early if signs of infection appear.<\/p>\n \u201cEarly diagnosis is certainly important,\u201d Barnewolt said. \u201cA heightened level of awareness all the time is something that we all strive to do in reducing the side effects or the bad outcomes of sepsis.\u201d<\/p>\n Lauren Albano can be reached at lauren.albano@globe.com<\/a>. Follow her on X @LaurenAlbano_<\/a>.<\/p>\n