Sepsis and septic shock are serious medical emergencies that arise from the body’s response to an infection. These conditions can rapidly become life-threatening, requiring immediate medical attention. While both are severe, they represent different stages of a complex physiological process. Understanding these distinctions is important for recognizing the severity of each condition.
What Sepsis Means
Sepsis is a condition where the body’s response to an infection causes injury to its own tissues and organs. It is not the infection itself, but a harmful immune reaction to it. This dysregulated response leads to widespread inflammation throughout the body, which can damage normal tissues and organs.
Common sources of infection that can trigger sepsis include pneumonia, urinary tract infections, and skin infections. Early signs can be subtle, including fever, chills, rapid heartbeat, rapid breathing, and confusion. These symptoms indicate the body is struggling to contain the infection and its effects.
The Progression to Septic Shock
Septic shock develops as a severe complication when sepsis leads to profoundly low blood pressure and organ failure. It occurs when the body’s circulatory system cannot maintain adequate blood flow to tissues and organs, even after intravenous fluids. Persistent low blood pressure, often requiring medication, characterizes septic shock.
Other indicators of septic shock include significant organ dysfunction. These include decreased urine output, altered mental status, and elevated lactate levels. Septic shock represents a worsening of the body’s response to infection, indicating its systems are failing to maintain stability.
Comparing Severity and Impact
Septic shock is more severe and life-threatening than sepsis alone. While sepsis involves organ dysfunction, septic shock indicates a widespread failure of the circulatory system and cellular metabolism. This distinction is reflected in patient outcomes.
Mortality rates are higher for septic shock compared to sepsis. Mortality for septic shock can be 30% to 50%, compared to 10% to 25% for sepsis. In septic shock, low blood pressure prevents adequate oxygen and nutrient delivery to organs, leading to extensive damage. This contrasts with sepsis, where blood pressure may remain stable and organ dysfunction is less severe. Septic shock demands immediate and aggressive medical intervention because the body’s ability to maintain basic functions is compromised.
Why Immediate Action Matters
Early recognition and immediate medical intervention are important for both sepsis and septic shock. Time is a factor, as delays in treatment can worsen patient outcomes and increase the risk of death. For every hour that treatment is delayed, the chance of sepsis progressing to septic shock and causing death rises.
Medical professionals initiate treatment with antibiotics to combat the infection and provide intravenous fluids to support blood pressure. Supportive care, including oxygen or other measures to assist failing organs, is also provided. Prompt medical attention for any signs of infection combined with symptoms of sepsis can improve prognosis.