{"id":51366,"date":"2025-04-25T21:50:09","date_gmt":"2025-04-26T01:50:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hancockhealth.org\/mayo-health-library\/sepsis\/"},"modified":"2026-02-04T11:57:59","modified_gmt":"2026-02-04T16:57:59","slug":"sepsis","status":"publish","type":"mayo","link":"https:\/\/www.hancockhealth.org\/es\/mayo-health-library\/sepsis\/","title":{"rendered":"Sepsis"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"container mx-auto   wordpress-block wordpress- core-\">\n<p>Sepsis is a serious condition in which the body responds improperly to an infection. The infection-fighting processes turn on the body, causing the organs to work poorly.<\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>Early treatment of sepsis improves chances for survival.<\/p>\n<h3>Symptoms of sepsis<\/h3>\n<p>Symptoms of sepsis may include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Change in mental status.<\/li>\n<li>Fast, shallow breathing.<\/li>\n<li>Sweating for no clear reason.<\/li>\n<li>Feeling lightheaded.<\/li>\n<li>Shivering.<\/li>\n<li>Symptoms specific to the type of infection, such as painful urination from a urinary tract infection or worsening cough from pneumonia.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Symptoms of sepsis are not specific. They can vary from person to person, and sepsis may appear differently in children than in adults.<\/p>\n<h3>Symptoms of septic shock<\/h3>\n<p>Sepsis may progress to septic shock. Septic shock is a severe drop in blood pressure. Progression to septic shock raises the risk of death. Symptoms of septic shock include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Not being able to stand up.<\/li>\n<li>Strong sleepiness or hard time staying awake.<\/li>\n<li>Major change in mental status, such as extreme confusion.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Any infection could lead to sepsis. Go to a health care provider if you have symptoms of sepsis or an infection or wound that isn&#8217;t getting better.<\/p>\n<p>Symptoms such as confusion or fast breathing need emergency care.<\/p>\n<p>Any type of infection can lead to sepsis. This includes bacterial, viral or fungal infections. Those that more commonly cause sepsis include infections of:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Lungs, such as pneumonia.<\/li>\n<li>Kidney, bladder and other parts of the urinary system.<\/li>\n<li>Digestive system.<\/li>\n<li>Bloodstream.<\/li>\n<li>Catheter sites.<\/li>\n<li>Wounds or burns.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Some factors that increase the risk infection will lead to sepsis include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>People over age 65.<\/li>\n<li>Infancy.<\/li>\n<li>People with lower immune response, such as those being treated for cancer or people with <abbr title=\"human immunodeficiency virus\">HIV<\/abbr>.<\/li>\n<li>People with chronic diseases, such as diabetes, kidney disease or <abbr title=\"chronic obstructive pulmonary disease\">COPD<\/abbr>.<\/li>\n<li>Admission to intensive care unit or longer hospital stays.<\/li>\n<li>Devices that go in the body, such as catheters in the vein, called intravenous, or breathing tubes.<\/li>\n<li>Treatment with antibiotics in the last 90 days.<\/li>\n<li>A condition that requires treatment with corticosteroids, which can lower immune response.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>As sepsis worsens, vital organs, such as the brain, heart and kidneys, don&#8217;t get as much blood as they should. Sepsis may cause atypical blood clotting. The resulting small clots or burst blood vessels may damage or destroy tissues.<\/p>\n<p>Most people recover from mild sepsis, but the mortality rate for septic shock is about 30% to 40%. Also, an episode of severe sepsis raises the risk for future infections.<\/p>\n<p>Doctors often order several tests to try to pinpoint underlying infection.<\/p>\n<h3>Blood tests<\/h3>\n<p>Blood samples are used to test for:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Evidence of infection.<\/li>\n<li>Blood-clotting problems.<\/li>\n<li>Abnormal liver or kidney function.<\/li>\n<li>Lower levels of oxygen than the body needs.<\/li>\n<li>Electrolyte imbalances.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Other lab tests<\/h3>\n<p>Other lab tests to find the source of the infection might include samples of:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Urine.<\/li>\n<li>Liquid from the wound.<\/li>\n<li>Mucus and saliva from the respiratory tract.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Imaging tests<\/h3>\n<p>If the site of infection is not readily found, your health care provider may order more tests. Some examples of imaging tests are:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b>X-ray.<\/b> X-rays can show infections in your lungs.<\/li>\n<li><b>Ultrasound.<\/b> This machine uses sound waves to produce real-time images on a video screen. Ultrasound can show infections in the gallbladder and kidneys.<\/li>\n<li><b>Computerized tomography (CT).<\/b> This machine takes X-rays from a variety of angles and combines them to show cross-sectional slices of the inside of the body. Infections in the liver, pancreas or other abdominal organs are easier to see on <abbr title=\"computed tomography\">CT<\/abbr> scans.<\/li>\n<li><b>Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).<\/b> This machine uses radio waves and a strong magnet to produce cross-sectional or 3D images. It may be helpful in seeing soft tissue or bone infections.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Early, thorough treatment raises the likelihood of recovery. People who have sepsis need close monitoring and treatment in a hospital intensive care unit. This is because people with sepsis may need lifesaving measures to stabilize breathing and heart action.<\/p>\n<h3>Medications<\/h3>\n<p>Different medications are used in treating sepsis and septic shock. They include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Antibiotics.<\/b> Treatment with antibiotics begins as soon as possible. Broad-spectrum antibiotics, which are effective against a variety of bacteria, are often used first. When blood tests results show which germ is causing the infection, the first antibiotic may get switched out for a second one. This second one targets the germ causing the infection.<\/li>\n<li><b>Fluids added to veins. <\/b>The use of intravenous fluids begins as soon as possible.<\/li>\n<li><b>Vasopressors.<\/b> Vasopressors narrow blood vessels and help increase blood pressure. A vasopressor medication may be used if blood pressure is too low even after receiving fluids.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Other medications may be used, such as insulin for blood sugar levels, or painkillers.<\/p>\n<h3>Supportive care<\/h3>\n<p>People who have sepsis often get supportive care that includes oxygen. Some people may need a machine help them breathe. If a person&#8217;s kidneys don&#8217;t work as well because of the infection, the person may need dialysis.<\/p>\n<h3>Surgery<\/h3>\n<p>Surgery may help to remove sources of infection, such as pus, infected tissues or dead tissues.<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Learn more about the symptoms and treatment of sepsis, a serious infection-related illness.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","tags":[1685,1682],"class_list":["post-51366","mayo","type-mayo","status-publish","hentry","tag-condition","tag-person-group-concept","content_type-diseases-conditions"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Sepsis - Hancock Health<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hancockhealth.org\/es\/mayo-health-library\/sepsis\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"es_MX\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Sepsis - 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