What is sepsis?

Sepsis is defined as a whole body inflammation caused by a severe infection. It occurs when the body’s response to an infection triggers a widespread inflammatory reaction, which can lead to tissue damage, organ failure, and can be life-threatening. This systemic response indicates that the infection is not isolated but has potentially spread throughout the body, impacting various organs and systems.

Understanding this definition helps to underline the seriousness of sepsis as it requires immediate medical attention. It’s characterized by symptoms such as fever, increased heart rate, and difficulty in breathing, reflecting the body’s struggle to manage the overwhelming infection.

In contrast, localized infections focus on a specific area of the body, which does not encapsulate the systemic nature of sepsis. Antibiotic treatments are used to address infections but are not synonymous with sepsis itself, and chronic disease conditions do not regularly present in an acute or inflammatory manner like sepsis does. Therefore, recognizing the systemic, inflammatory response attributed to sepsis is critical for both diagnosis and treatment.