Emergency & Acute Care Medicine

Sepsis and Infectious Diseases

Sepsis is a potentially life-threatening medical condition that arises as a response to an infection. It occurs when the body's immune system overreacts to an infection, releasing a large amount of chemicals into the bloodstream to combat the invading pathogens. However, these chemicals can trigger widespread inflammation, which can lead to organ damage and dysfunction. Sepsis can progress to severe sepsis and septic shock if not treated promptly and effectively.

Infectious diseases are caused by microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites. When these pathogens invade the body, they can lead to infections. Some infectious diseases can trigger sepsis if the immune response becomes dysregulated. Common sources of infection that can lead to sepsis include pneumonia, urinary tract infections, abdominal infections (such as appendicitis), and bloodstream infections (bacteremia).