Signs and symptoms of sepsis

To be diagnosed with sepsis, you must have a probable or confirmed infection and all of the following signs:

• Change in mental status
• A first (upper) number in a blood pressure reading — also called the systolic pressure — that's less than or equal to 100 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg)
• Respiratory rate higher than or equal to 22 breaths a minute

Signs and symptoms of septic shock

Sepsis can progress to septic shock when certain changes in the circulatory system, the body's cells and how the body uses energy become more abnormal. Septic shock is more likely to cause death than sepsis is. To be diagnosed with septic shock, you must have a probable or confirmed infection and both of the following:

• The need for medication to maintain blood pressure greater than or equal to 65 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg).
• High levels of lactic acid in your blood (serum lactate) after you have received adequate fluid replacement. Having too much lactic acid in your blood means that your cells aren't using oxygen properly.

While any type of infection — bacterial, viral or fungal — can lead to sepsis, the most likely varieties include:

• Pneumonia
• Infection of the digestive system (which includes organs such as the stomach and colon)
• Infection of the kidney, bladder and other parts of the urinary system
• Bloodstream infection (bacteremia)

Sepsis and septic shock are more common if you:

• Are very young or very old
• Have a compromised immune system
• Have diabetes or cirrhosis
• Are already very sick, often in a hospital intensive care unit
• Have wounds or injuries, such as burns
• Have invasive devices, such as intravenous catheters or breathing tubes
• Have previously received antibiotics or corticosteroids

Sepsis ranges from less to more severe. As sepsis worsens, blood flow to vital organs, such as your brain, heart and kidneys, becomes impaired. Sepsis can also cause blood clots to form in your organs and in your arms, legs, fingers and toes — leading to varying degrees of organ failure and tissue death (gangrene).

Most people recover from mild sepsis, but the average mortality rate for septic shock is about 40 percent. Also, an episode of severe sepsis may place you at higher risk of future infections.