Sepsis is the body's extreme, life-threatening response to an infection, and it kills at least 350,000 American adults every year, according to CDC surveillance data. Roughly 1.7 million adults in the country develop it annually.
The reason it is so deadly is speed. Every hour that treatment is delayed, the risk of dying rises by between 4% and 9%, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges, which cites experts saying up to 80% of sepsis deaths could be prevented with faster care. Sepsis is now the third leading cause of death in US hospitals.
The problem is that the early warning signs look almost identical to a bad flu or a urinary tract infection getting worse. That is why so many people ride it out at home until an organ starts to fail.
What sepsis actually is
Sepsis is not the infection itself. It is what happens when the body's response to an infection goes into overdrive and starts damaging its own tissues and organs.
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Any infection can set it off, but the CDC notes that infections of the lung, urinary tract, skin, and gut are the most common triggers, and that sepsis starts outside the hospital in nearly 80% of cases.
Older adults, infants under one, people with diabetes or weakened immune systems, and anyone recovering from surgery are at higher risk. But sepsis can hit healthy people too.
The 7 warning signs to know
The CDC groups the signs into a short list every household should recognize. Watch for these when you or a family member already has an infection.
- Fever, shivering, or feeling very cold. Temperature can spike high or drop unusually low. Both directions are warning signs.
- Confusion or disorientation. A sudden change in mental state, especially in an older adult, is one of the most-missed red flags.
- Extreme pain or discomfort. Pain that feels far worse than the underlying illness should. Patients often describe it as the worst they have ever felt.
- Shortness of breath or rapid breathing. Fast, shallow breathing is a classic sign. Clinicians use a threshold of more than 22 breaths per minute as one of the qSOFA criteria for identifying patients at high risk.
- High heart rate or weak pulse. A racing heart at rest, even without exertion, is a common early feature.
- Clammy or sweaty skin. Skin may feel cool and moist, or look mottled with a bluish, patchy pattern as circulation falters.
- Little or no urination. A sharp drop in how often you pee is often the point at which sepsis is affecting the kidneys and other vital organs, according to the Mayo Clinic.
No single sign proves sepsis. The danger is a combination, especially when an infection is not improving or is getting worse.
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What to do if you suspect it
Sepsis is a medical emergency. The CDC's Get Ahead of Sepsis campaign tells patients and families to seek care immediately for any infection that is not getting better, and to tell the healthcare provider directly that they are concerned about sepsis.
The exact wording matters at the ER desk. Say the words "I am concerned about sepsis" so triage staff know to move fast. If symptoms are severe, call 911 rather than driving.
Anyone with an infection who is feeling markedly worse, especially with confusion, breathlessness, or a big drop in urine output, should be seen the same day rather than waiting to see if it settles overnight.
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This article is made and published by Mie Hermansen, who may have used AI in the preparation.