Sepsis is at the forefront of many people’s minds after it was announced that 41-year-old NASCAR driver Kyle Busch died of pneumonia that progressed to sepsis last week.
Sepsis is a rare, life-threatening condition that occurs when the body has an extreme reaction to an infection. It can affect anyone, yet it can be hard to identify.
“I think ultimately one of the problems with sepsis is it’s been so hard to define, especially from a medical perspective,” said Dr. Scott Roberts, an assistant professor in infectious diseases at Yale School of Medicine in Connecticut.
Unlike a positive COVID or flu test, there isn’t one test that tells you “yes, you have sepsis” or “no, you don’t have sepsis.” Instead, it’s a condition that can appear differently from person to person but has deadly consequences.
“I think, broadly, sepsis would be an inappropriate immune response to some infection, which could be bacterial, could be viral,” Roberts said. Fungal infections can also lead to sepsis.
The most common infections that progress to sepsis include lung infections like pneumonia, along with infections of the urinary system, bloodstream, catheter sites, wounds and digestive system, according to the Mayo Clinic.
“But a lot of the issues with sepsis is that it’s really a syndrome of your own body’s over response to that infection, which can quite rapidly lead to significant infection where you can’t support your organs,” which can lead to organ failure, Roberts said.
Sepsis is more common in people over 65, young children and people who are immunocompromised, said Dr. Cindy Hou, an infectious disease expert at Jefferson Health in Philadelphia. However, anyone can develop it.
Overall, sepsis is rare but occurs in roughly 1.7 million adults and 18,000 children in the United States each year. Here’s what to know:
The signs of sepsis include fever, low blood pressure and high heart rate.
There are certain signs of sepsis you should know about, according to Hou. These include “fever, chills and ― depending on the source of infection ― that’s where you might have symptoms,” Hou said.
For example, if you have a urinary tract infection that led to sepsis, you may also have urinary symptoms such as burning, she said.
“If it’s an infection of the lungs, maybe you’ll have cough and shortness of breath. If you have an infection of the gastrointestinal tract, then you might have belly pain, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting. If you have an infection of the skin, then the skin might be swollen, painful, red, hot to touch,” Hou explained. “The symptoms really vary.”
Low blood pressure and high heart rate are also common, according to Roberts, as is confusion.
Of course, these symptoms are not always a guarantee that you’re experiencing sepsis. You may have a fever due to COVID-19 or a high heart rate after a run. But if something feels off, it’s worth talking to a doctor.
“It’s just really important to be aware of infection, to be diagnosed, to get treated, to be aware of signs and symptoms of sepsis,” Hou stressed.
If you do notice any concerning symptoms, immediately go to the emergency room, said Dr. Brintha Vasagar, a family physician in Wisconsin. “This is not something people can care for at home,” Vasagar said.
Each hour you go without treatment for sepsis increases your risk of bad outcomes, Roberts noted, including “septic shock,” which is the most extreme stage of sepsis.
During septic shock, someone’s blood pressure is very low, Hou said. It can cause organ failure, too. “[There is] a higher chance of dying if people are in septic shock, so that is the most severe form,” Hou added.
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You can’t do anything to completely prevent sepsis, but there are a few steps you can take.
“A lot of sepsis results from our own bacteria in our body. If I get a cut on my skin, it can lead to a bloodstream infection, but that’s not anything I acquired from anyone,” Roberts noted. A situation like this is out of your control.
That said, there are certain steps you can take to prevent it as much as possible.
It’s a good idea to make sure you are up-to-date on all vaccines, for both viral illnesses (such as flu and COVID) and bacterial illnesses, Roberts suggested. This includes the pneumonia, the meningitis vaccine and others that help prevent bacterial infections. (It’s worth noting not everyone is eligible for all of these shots.)
“If you are diagnosed with an infection, it’s important to get properly treated, and sometimes people need to be carefully monitored as an outpatient,” Hou said.
Follow your doctor’s orders in regard to medication adherence and any additional necessary monitoring. It can also be helpful to buy a blood pressure monitor to have at home so you can measure your vitals, according to Roberts. Same goes for a thermometer.
“It’s really just staying aware of what’s happening with your body before it becomes too late. Noticing when you have a fever, noticing if you’re feeling a little more confused … those can be really good predictors something is going on here that’s more than what we can manage at home,” Vasagar said.
Certain stages of sepsis can be treated by medical professionals, but prompt medical attention is crucial.
“Advocate for yourself,” Roberts stressed. If someone seems wrong, whether with yourself or a loved one, seek care.