Sepsis is the body’s overwhelming and life-threatening response to infection. It can lead to tissue damage, organ failure and death.
The source of infection could be from any number of causes, such as an animal bite, common cold that turns to pneumonia, open wound, urinary tract infection, an implanted device, stomach bug, post-surgery infection, meningitis, kidney infection, bacteria that enters the blood, to name a few.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms include fever, chills or sweats, extreme body aches, confusion, shortness of breath and rapid heart rate.
If you or someone you know are experiencing these symptoms, call your doctor.
Go to the Emergency Department if:
- You feel sick, very tired, weak and achy
- Your heartbeat or breathing is very fast
- Temperature is above 101.5 or below 96.8
- Fingernails are pale or blue
- People say you aren’t making sense
- You have a wound that is painful, red, smells or has pus
“Do not wait to get treatment. Sepsis is a medical emergency,” said Kyirsten Amerine R.N., sepsis coordinator at Tucson Medical Center. “Time is everything in getting treated with the right antibiotics.”