Quick answer
What is sepsis?
Sepsis is when the body's response to infection injures its own tissues and organs — a medical emergency. Symptoms include confusion, extreme breathlessness, not passing urine, mottled skin, fever or low temperature, and feeling deathly ill. Any infection can trigger it — urine, chest, skin, abdomen. Phone 999 or go to A&E if you suspect sepsis — do not wait. Early antibiotics and fluids in hospital save lives — hours matter.
Sepsis — when infection becomes emergency
Sepsis is life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by dysregulated host response to infection — immune cascade damages blood vessels, orgers fail.
Septic shock — sepsis + persistent hypotension despite fluids — ~40% mortality.
UK ~245,000 cases yearly — 48,000 deaths — early treatment saves lives.
Public recognition — UK Sepsis Trust
Adults — seek 999 if ANY with suspected infection:
- Slurred speech or confusion
- Extreme shivering or muscle ache
- Passing no urine (day)
- Severe breathlessness
- I feel like I might die
- Skin mottled or discoloured
“Just ask: could it be sepsis?”
Children (under 5) — additional
- breathing very fast
- fit or convulsion
- looks mottled, bluish, pale
- rash not fading
- lethargic or difficult to wake
- feels abnormally cold
Common infection sources
- pneumonia — see chest infection
- UTI — kidney infection
- skin — cellulitis
- abdomen — appendicitis, perforated viscus
- meningitis
- lines/devices — central venous catheters
Who is vulnerable
- >75, <1 year
- chemotherapy, steroids, immunosuppression
- diabetes
- recent surgery
- indwelling urinary catheter
Hospital management
Sepsis Six bundle (within 1 hour):
- High-flow oxygen
- Blood cultures
- IV antibiotics
- IV fluid bolus
- Measure lactate
- Monitor urine output — catheter if needed
Source control — surgery, drainage
ICU — noradrenaline, ventilation, RRT
After sepsis
Post-sepsis syndrome:
- fatigue, weakness, anxiety, cognitive fog — months
Rehabilitation — physio, psychology
vs flu
Flu miserable — sepsis catastrophic — confusion + infection + collapse — not “wait it out”.
Antibiotics at home for UTI but getting worse day 3 — same-day review — not repeat script blind.
Sepsis kills in hours — 999 beats politeness — say sepsis aloud to dispatcher.
Common questions
- What are the signs of sepsis?
- Slurred speech or confusion, extreme shivering or muscle pain, passing no urine all day, severe breathlessness, feels like dying, skin mottled or discoloured. In children — breathing very fast, fits, pale skin, rash not fading, lethargy, abnormally cold touch. Any combination with infection — emergency.
- What is the difference between sepsis and septicaemia?
- Sepsis is life-threatening organ dysfunction from dysregulated host response to infection. Septicaemia (blood poisoning) implies bacteria in bloodstream — can cause sepsis but sepsis can occur without positive blood cultures. Both need urgent hospital treatment.
- What causes sepsis?
- Any infection — pneumonia, urinary tract infection, cellulitis, appendicitis, meningitis, abdominal infection. Bacteria most common; viruses and fungi also. Surgery, indwelling lines, and catheters increase risk. Body's immune overreaction damages vessels and organs.
- How is sepsis treated?
- Emergency hospital — IV antibiotics within 1 hour of recognition, IV fluid resuscitation, oxygen, monitor urine output, treat source (drain abscess, remove infected line). ICU if shock — vasopressors, organ support. Blood cultures before antibiotics when possible without delay.
- Can sepsis be prevented?
- Prompt treatment of infections, hand hygiene, vaccination (flu, pneumococcal, meningitis), care of wounds and diabetes, seek help early when unwell. Cannot prevent all cases — early recognition key to survival.