About Sepsis | Sepsis

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href="/sepsis/site.html"> View All </a> </div> </div> </header> <main class="container cdc-main" role="main" aria-label="Main Content Area"> <section class="cdc-page-title-bar cdc-page-offset noindex"> <time class="cdc-page-title-bar__item cdc-page-title-bar__item--date" datetime="2024-03-08 00:00:00"> March 8, 2024 </time> <div class="cdc-page-title-bar__item cdc-page-title-bar__item--languages"> <a class="cdc-page-title-bar__item" href="/sepsis/es/about/index.html">Español</a> </div> </section> <div class="cdc-page-feature cdc-page-feature--ssi"></div> <div class="cdc-page-title cdc-page-offset syndicate"> <h1>About Sepsis</h1> </div> <div id="content" class="cdc-page-content cdc-page-offset syndicate container"> <div class="cdc-dfe-body "> <div class="cdc-dfe-body__top "> <div class="dfe-section dfe-section--page-summary summary-list" data-section="cdc_disease_basics_page_summary"> <div class="dfe-section__header"> <h2>Key points</h2> </div> <div class="dfe-section__content"> <ul class="nested-list"> <li class="level-1">Sepsis is the body's extreme response to an infection. It is a life-threatening medical emergency.<ul> </ul> </li> <li class="level-1">Anyone can get an infection, and almost any infection can lead to sepsis.<ul> </ul> </li> </ul> </div> <div id="nav-buttons"> </div> </div> </div> <div class="cdc-dfe-body__center "> <div class="dfe-section" data-section="cdc_disease_basics_overview"> <a class="onThisPageAnchor" id="cdc_disease_basics_overview-what-is-sepsis" name="What%20is%20sepsis?" title="What is sepsis?"></a><h2>What is sepsis?</h2> <p>Sepsis is the body's extreme response to an infection. It is a life-threatening medical emergency. Sepsis happens when an infection you already have triggers a chain reaction throughout your body. </p> <p>Infections that lead to sepsis most often start in the: </p> <ul class="nested-list"> <li class="level-1">Gastrointestinal tract<ul> </ul> </li> <li class="level-1">Lung<ul> </ul> </li> <li class="level-1">Skin or<ul> </ul> </li> <li class="level-1">Urinary tract<ul> </ul> </li> </ul> <p>Without timely treatment, sepsis can rapidly lead to tissue damage, organ failure and death. </p> </div> <div class="dfe-section" data-section="cdc_disease_basics_symptoms"> <a class="onThisPageAnchor" id="cdc_disease_basics_symptoms-signs-and-symptoms" name="Signs%20and%20symptoms" title="Signs and symptoms"></a><h2>Signs and symptoms</h2> <p>A person with sepsis might have one or more of the following signs or symptoms: </p> <ul class="nested-list"> <li class="level-1">Clammy or sweaty skin<ul> </ul> </li> <li class="level-1">Confusion or disorientation<ul> </ul> </li> <li class="level-1">Extreme pain or discomfort<ul> </ul> </li> <li class="level-1">Fever, shivering or feeling very cold<ul> </ul> </li> <li class="level-1">High heart rate or weak pulse<ul> </ul> </li> <li class="level-1">Shortness of breath<ul> </ul> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="dfe-section" data-section="cdc_disease_basics_population"> <a class="onThisPageAnchor" id="cdc_disease_basics_population-at-risk-populations" name="At-risk%20populations" title="At-risk populations"></a><h2>At-risk populations</h2> <p>Anyone can develop sepsis, but some people are at higher risk for sepsis.</p> <div class="dfe-block dfe-block--keep_reading"><b>Keep Reading:</b> <a href="/sepsis/risk-factors/index.html">People at Increased Risk for Sepsis</a></div> </div> <div class="dfe-section" data-section="cdc_disease_basics_causes_risk_spread"> <a class="onThisPageAnchor" id="cdc_disease_basics_causes_risk_spread-causes" name="Causes" title="Causes"></a><h2>Causes</h2> <p>Infections can put you and your loved ones at risk for sepsis. When germs get into a person's body, they can cause an infection. If you don't stop that infection, it can cause sepsis. </p> <p>Bacterial infections cause most cases of sepsis. Sepsis can also be a result of other infections, including viral infections, such as COVID-19 or influenza, or fungal infections. </p> </div> <div class="dfe-section" data-section="cdc_disease_basics_prevention"> <a class="onThisPageAnchor" id="cdc_disease_basics_prevention-reducing-risk" name="Reducing%20risk" title="Reducing risk"></a><h2>Reducing risk</h2> <p>You can take specific steps to reduce your risk of sepsis.</p> <div class="dfe-block dfe-block--keep_reading"><b>Keep Reading:</b> <a href="/sepsis/prevention/index.html">Preventing Infections That Can Lead to Sepsis</a></div> </div> <div class="dfe-section" data-section="cdc_disease_basics_quick_facts_callout_callout"> <a class="onThisPageAnchor" id="cdc_disease_basics_quick_facts_callout_callout-quick-facts" name="Quick%20facts" title="Quick facts"></a><h2>Quick facts</h2> <ul class="nested-list"> <li class="level-1">Each year, at least 1.7 million adults in America develop sepsis.<span class="cdc-references-cite"><a class="cdc-references-cite__link" href="#cdcreference_1" aria-label="Reference link 1">1</a></span><ul> </ul> </li> <li class="level-1">At least 350,000 adults who develop sepsis die during their hospitalization or are discharged to hospice.<span class="cdc-references-cite"><a class="cdc-references-cite__link" href="#cdcreference_1" aria-label="Reference link 1">1</a></span><ul> </ul> </li> <li class="level-1">1 in 3 people who dies in a hospital had sepsis during that hospitalization. <span class="cdc-references-cite"><a class="cdc-references-cite__link" href="#cdcreference_1" aria-label="Reference link 1">1</a></span><ul> </ul> </li> <li class="level-1">Most cases of sepsis start before a patient goes to the hospital.<span class="cdc-references-cite"><a class="cdc-references-cite__link" href="#cdcreference_2" aria-label="Reference link 2">2</a><a class="cdc-references-cite__link" href="#cdcreference_3" aria-label="Reference link 3">3</a></span><ul> </ul> </li> <li class="level-1">Most people who develop sepsis have at least one underlying medical condition, such as chronic lung disease or a weakened immune system. <span class="cdc-references-cite"><a class="cdc-references-cite__link" href="#cdcreference_2" aria-label="Reference link 2">2</a><a class="cdc-references-cite__link" href="#cdcreference_3" aria-label="Reference link 3">3</a></span><ul> </ul> </li> <li class="level-1">Nearly a quarter to a third of people with sepsis had a healthcare visit in the week before they were hospitalized.<span class="cdc-references-cite"><a class="cdc-references-cite__link" href="#cdcreference_2" aria-label="Reference link 2">2</a><a class="cdc-references-cite__link" href="#cdcreference_3" aria-label="Reference link 3">3</a></span><ul> </ul> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="dfe-section" data-section="cdc_disease_basics_testing_screening"> <a class="onThisPageAnchor" id="cdc_disease_basics_testing_screening-diagnosis" name="Diagnosis" title="Diagnosis"></a><h2>Diagnosis</h2> <p>Sepsis is diagnosed through a medical assessment by a healthcare provider. </p> <p>Healthcare providers diagnose sepsis using physical findings, such as: </p> <ul class="nested-list"> <li class="level-1">Difficulty breathing<ul> </ul> </li> <li class="level-1">Fever<ul> </ul> </li> <li class="level-1">Increased heart rate<ul> </ul> </li> <li class="level-1">Low blood pressure<ul> </ul> </li> </ul> <p>Healthcare providers also perform tests that check for signs of infection or organ damage. Some of these tests are used to identify the germ that caused the infection that led to sepsis. This testing might include blood cultures looking for bacterial infections or fungal infections, or tests for viral infections, like COVID-19 or influenza. </p> <p>Healthcare providers should immediately evaluate and treat people who might have sepsis. </p> </div> <div class="dfe-section" data-section="cdc_disease_basics_treatment"> <a class="onThisPageAnchor" id="cdc_disease_basics_treatment-treatment" name="Treatment" title="Treatment"></a><h2>Treatment</h2> <p>Research shows that rapid, effective sepsis treatment includes: </p> <ul class="nested-list"> <li class="level-1">Giving appropriate treatment, including antibiotics, as soon as possible<ul> </ul> </li> <li class="level-1">Maintaining blood flow to organs<ul> </ul> </li> </ul> <p>Sometimes surgery is required to remove tissue damaged by the infection. </p> <p>Healthcare providers should treat sepsis with antibiotics as soon as possible. </p> </div> <div class="dfe-section" data-section="cdc_disease_basics_myths"> <a class="onThisPageAnchor" id="cdc_disease_basics_myths-what-you-should-know-about-antibiotics" name="What%20you%20should%20know%20about%20antibiotics" title="What you should know about antibiotics"></a><h2>What you should know about antibiotics</h2> <p>Antibiotics are critical tools for treating infections, including those that can lead to sepsis. However, as <a href="/antimicrobial-resistance/about/index.html" class="">antimicrobial resistance</a> spreads, infections are becoming more difficult to treat. Antibiotic side effects range from minor, such as rash, dizziness, nausea, diarrhea and yeast infections, to very severe health problems, such as life-threatening allergic reactions or <a href="/cdiff/index.html" class=""><em>C. difficile</em></a> (also called <em>C. diff</em>) infection, which causes diarrhea that can lead to colon damage or death. However, when antibiotics are needed, the benefits outweigh the risks of side effects or antimicrobial resistance. </p> <p>Improving the way healthcare providers prescribe antibiotics and the way we take antibiotics helps keep us healthy now, helps fight antimicrobial resistance and ensures that these lifesaving drugs will work for you or others when they are needed most, like for treating infections associated with sepsis.</p> <div class="dfe-block dfe-block--keep_reading"><b>Keep Reading:</b> <a href="/sepsis/hcp/clinical-care/index.html">Clinical Care of Sepsis</a></div> </div> <div class="dfe-section" data-section="cdc_disease_basics_similar_dis"> <a class="onThisPageAnchor" id="cdc_disease_basics_similar_dis-related-diseases" name="Related%20diseases" title="Related diseases"></a><h2>Related diseases</h2> <ul class="nested-list"> <li class="level-1"><a href="/healthcare-associated-infections/index.html" class="">Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs)</a><ul> </ul> </li> <li class="level-1"><a href="/antibiotic-use/index.html" class="">Antibiotic Prescribing and Use</a><ul> </ul> </li> <li class="level-1"><em><a href="/cdiff/index.html" class="ce-selection">C. diff (Clostridioides difficile)</a> </em><ul> </ul> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="dfe-section" data-section="cdc_disease_basics_what_cdc_is_doing"> <a class="onThisPageAnchor" id="cdc_disease_basics_what_cdc_is_doing-what-cdc-is-doing" name="What%20CDC%20is%20doing" title="What CDC is doing"></a><h2>What CDC is doing</h2> <ul class="nested-list"> <li class="level-1">Understanding the epidemiology of sepsis.<span class="cdc-references-cite"><a class="cdc-references-cite__link" href="#cdcreference_1" aria-label="Reference link 1">1</a><a class="cdc-references-cite__link" href="#cdcreference_2" aria-label="Reference link 2">2</a><a class="cdc-references-cite__link" href="#cdcreference_3" aria-label="Reference link 3">3</a></span><ul> </ul> </li> <li class="level-1">Developing tools for hospitals<strong>,</strong> such as the <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/sepsis/hcp/core-elements/index.html" class="ce-selection">Hospital Sepsis Program Core Elements</a>, to monitor and optimize early identification, management and outcomes.<ul> </ul> </li> <li class="level-1">Working with partners, including the <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/healthcare-associated-infections/php/prevention-epicenters/index.html" class="">CDC Prevention Epicenters</a>, and other Federal agencies to develop innovative ways to improve sepsis early detection and treatment.<ul> </ul> </li> <li class="level-1">Promoting early recognition and timely treatment through <em><a href="https://www.cdc.gov/sepsis/get-ahead-of-sepsis/index.html">Get Ahead of Sepsis</a></em> and appropriate <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/antibiotic-use/">antibiotic prescribing and use</a>.<ul> </ul> </li> <li class="level-1"><a href="https://www.cdc.gov/infection-control/index.html">Preventing infections</a> that can lead to sepsis in healthcare and community settings.<ul> </ul> </li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="cdc-dfe-body__right page-right-rail"> <aside class="page-right-rail__static noindex" role="complementary"> <div class="on-this-page " data-sid=""> <h2 class="on-this-page__heading"> On This Page </h2> <div class="card-body"> <ul> <li><a href="#cdc_disease_basics_overview-what-is-sepsis">What is sepsis?</a></li> <li><a href="#cdc_disease_basics_symptoms-signs-and-symptoms">Signs and symptoms</a></li> <li><a href="#cdc_disease_basics_population-at-risk-populations">At-risk populations</a></li> <li><a href="#cdc_disease_basics_causes_risk_spread-causes">Causes</a></li> <li><a href="#cdc_disease_basics_prevention-reducing-risk">Reducing risk</a></li> <li><a href="#cdc_disease_basics_quick_facts_callout_callout-quick-facts">Quick facts</a></li> <li><a href="#cdc_disease_basics_testing_screening-diagnosis">Diagnosis</a></li> <li><a href="#cdc_disease_basics_treatment-treatment">Treatment</a></li> <li><a href="#cdc_disease_basics_myths-what-you-should-know-about-antibiotics">What you should know about antibiotics</a></li> <li><a href="#cdc_disease_basics_similar_dis-related-diseases">Related diseases</a></li> <li><a href="#cdc_disease_basics_what_cdc_is_doing-what-cdc-is-doing">What CDC is doing</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </aside> <aside class="page-right-rail__dynamic noindex" role="complementary"> <div data-related-nav></div> </aside> </div> </div> <div data-journey-next></div> <section class="container page-mobile-bar"> <time class="page-mobile-bar__item page-mobile-bar__item--date" datetime="2024-03-08 00:00:00"> March 8, 2024 </time> </section> <div class="page-content-sources noindex"> <div class="page-content-sources__header"> <a data-action="summary" class="collapsed" href="#content-sources" role="button" data-bs-toggle="collapse" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="content-sources" data-cs-toggle="">Sources</a> <a data-action="print" href="#print" class="d-none d-md-block" 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Incidence and Trends of Sepsis in US Hospitals Using Clinical vs Claims Data, 2009-2014. <em>JAMA</em>. 2017 Oct 3;318(13):1241-1249. doi: 10.1001/jama.2017.13836. PMID: 28903154; PMCID: PMC5710396.</li> <li id="cdcreference_2">Shelley S Magill, Mathew R P Sapiano, Runa Gokhale, Joelle Nadle, Helen Johnston, Geoff Brousseau, Meghan Maloney, Susan M Ray, Lucy E Wilson, Rebecca Perlmutter, Ruth Lynfield, Malini DeSilva, Marla Sievers, Lourdes Irizarry, Ghinwa Dumyati, Rebecca Pierce, Alexia Zhang, Marion Kainer, Anthony E Fiore, Raymund Dantes, Lauren Epstein, Epidemiology of Sepsis in US Children and Young Adults, <em>Open Forum Infectious Diseases</em>, Volume 10, Issue 5, May 2023, ofad218, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1093/ofid/ofad218" class="ce-selection">https://doi.org/10.1093/ofid/ofad218</a></li> <li id="cdcreference_3">Fay K, Sapiano MRP, Gokhale R, et al. Assessment of Health Care Exposures and Outcomes in Adult Patients With Sepsis and Septic Shock. <em>JAMA Netw Open</em>. 2020;3(7):e206004. Doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.6004</li></ol></div> </div> </div> <section class="container related-pages related-pages__mobile"> <div data-related-nav-mobile></div> </section> </div> </main> <section class="site-footer container noindex"> <div class="row cdc-footer__inner"> <div class="col-lg-3 site-footer__heading"> <h2> <a href=""> <i class="cdc-icon cdc-fa-solid cdc-fa-house"></i> <span class="cdc-footer__super-title" aria-label="Sepsis"> <a href="/sepsis/index.html"> Sepsis </a> <i class="cdc-icon cdc-fa-light cdc-fa-angle-right"></i> </span> </a> </h2> <p>Sepsis is the body’s extreme response to an infection. 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