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Chances are you’ve heard the word sepsis, but you might not know what it means — or how quickly an infection can become a medical emergency.
About 1.7 million adults in America develop sepsis each year, and at least 350,000 adults who develop sepsis die during their hospitalization or are discharged to hospice, according to the CDC. Sepsis Alliance ranks sepsis as the third leading cause of death in the United States and the leading cause of death in U.S. hospitals.
Because sepsis can develop quickly and may not be obvious at first, knowing what to watch for — and when to act — can make a lifesaving difference. Keep reading to learn more about:
Sepsis Alliance defines sepsis as the body’s overwhelming and life-threatening response to infection, which can lead to tissue damage, organ failure and death. It develops when the body has an extreme response to an infection; instead of fighting only the infection, the body’s immune response can begin damaging its own tissues and organs.
Sepsis can begin with many types of infections, including those in the lungs, urinary tract, skin, gut or a wound. As the reaction spreads through the body, sepsis can affect blood flow, breathing, blood pressure and how well vital organs are working — which is why early treatment is so important.
“I often explain sepsis as what can happen when an infection stops being isolated to one part of the body,” says Benjamin Ricke, MD, emergency physician with Emergency Physicians of Community Hospital Anderson. “The infection may start in the lungs, urinary tract or skin, but the body’s reaction can begin affecting blood pressure, breathing and vital organs. That’s why we take it so seriously and why early treatment matters.”
Sepsis can be hard to recognize because it often starts with something familiar — an infection, a fever or feeling unusually sick — before progressing quickly. Symptoms can also look like other illnesses, including the flu, dehydration or simply “getting worse.”
Because there is no single symptom that confirms sepsis, it’s important to look for a pattern, especially if symptoms appear with an infection or come on suddenly. Sepsis Alliance uses the acronym TIME to help people remember key warning signs:
“Sepsis doesn’t always look the same from person to person. What matters most is a sudden change — someone who becomes confused, short of breath, unusually cold or sweaty, extremely weak or much sicker than expected,” says Dr. Ricke.
“If you’re worried that something isn’t right, don’t wait. Seek emergency care and say you’re concerned about sepsis.”
Anyone can develop sepsis, but some people face a higher risk — especially adults 65 and older, babies younger than one year, people with weakened immune systems and people with chronic medical conditions. Sepsis can also develop from common infections, including:
That’s why it’s important to pay attention when an infection isn’t improving or symptoms suddenly become worse.
If you or someone you care for has an infection and symptoms are getting worse quickly, seek emergency care right away. When you arrive, tell the care team you’re concerned about sepsis.
Sharing recent symptoms, infections, illnesses, surgeries or wounds can help the team understand what may be happening and begin treatment as quickly as possible.
“You don’t have to know for sure that it’s sepsis before you seek care,” emphasizes Dr. Ricke. “If symptoms are changing quickly or something feels seriously wrong, it’s always appropriate to get checked. Telling the care team that you’re worried about sepsis can help start the conversation right away.”
Community Health Network emergency care teams across central Indiana evaluate and treat serious infections, including possible sepsis.
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Medically reviewed by Benjamin Ricke, MD, emergency physician at Community Hospital Anderson
About Benjamin Ricke, MD
Benjamin Ricke, MD, is a board-certified emergency physician with Emergency Physicians of Community Hospital Anderson, where he also serves as chief of staff. He has been caring for patients in Anderson since 2010 and is engaged in quality-of-care advancement across multiple areas, including sepsis care.
Dr. Ricke graduated from the University of Notre Dame, followed by medical school at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. He completed emergency medicine residency at Indiana University.
