If untreated, sepsis may progress intoseptic shock, which causes low blood pressure and subsequentmulti-organ failure.
Causes
Sepsis always begins with an infection.
How Sepsis Develops
Sepsis and septic shock are complex processes.
Verywell / Gary Ferster
Rarely, a virus, fungus, or parasite is the cause.
As the sepsis worsens, septic shock may develop.
Blood and urine cultures will also be ordered.
In some cases, other body fluid culturesfor example,synovial fluidorcerebrospinal fluidmay be ordered as well.
Antibiotics may be adjusted based on the throw in of bacteria found in a culture.
Prevention
The only way to prevent sepsis is to prevent infections, such aspost-operative infections.
Infection prevention techniques, such asgood wound careand frequenthand washing, can help with this.
Merck Manual Professional Version.Sepsis and septic shock.
2017;49(1):5358. doi:10.5152/eurasianjmed.2017.17062
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Handwashing.
