HealthSheets™

Adhering to the principles of health literacy, this extensive library of evidence-based, peer-reviewed information was written specifically for patients and covers diseases and conditions, diagnosis and treatments, surgeries and procedures, and wellness and safety for people of all ages and walks of life.

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You Have Sepsis: What to Know

Sepsis is a medical emergency. Sepsis is your body's life-threatening reaction to an infection. It allows the bacteria, virus, or fungi to be released throughout your body. This causes widespread inflammation.

Any infection can lead to sepsis. it can cause damage to your organs. I can also lead to death when not caught and treated early.

Some of the most common types of infections that cause sepsis are:

Pneumonia in your lungs.
Urinary tract infection in your bladder or kidneys.
Cellulitis in your skin.
Abdominal infections in your bowel or gallbladder.

Symptoms can depend on the source and type of your infection.

How do we diagnosis sepsis?

Physical exam
Blood tests
Urine test
Wound cultures
X-ray or other diagnostic imaging
Lumbar puncture
Other exams or tests based on symptoms and type of infection

Some of these tests take 48 to 72 hours to show results.

How do we treat sepsis?

We treat sepsis several ways. You will have medicines based on the cause of your infection.

You may also have:

IV fluids.
Oxygen to help with your breathing.
Medicine through an IV to raise your blood pressure if it's low.
Dialysis.
Surgery.
Other treatments based on your symptoms and type of infection.

What to expect in the hospital?

We will check your vital signs often such as your breathing rate, heartbeat, temperature and blood pressure. We will also draw your blood often to recheck labs and other diagnostic testing. You may need more care in our intensive care unit (ICU).

Who will be involved in your care?

Some of the people you may see are:

Specialist doctors such as lung, kidney or heart doctors.
A general surgeon.
An ICU doctor.
A hospitalist doctor.
Nurses.
Therapists and social workers.

They will work together as your health care team. Along with you, they will create the best plan for your treatment and recovery.

What's the plan for when you go home?

You may need to have home care, a community paramedic program, or other in-home services. Some people need a short stay at a rehab or skilled nursing facility.

Our team will work with you and your caregiver or family to make sure your transition home works well for you and your needs.

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