Sepsis is not an infection. It is not contagious. Sepsis is the body’s reaction to an infection.
More than 1.5 million people in the United States develop sepsis each year, and at least 270,000 Americans die from sepsis annually.
Normally, the immune system fights and controls infections, but for unknown reasons, this process breaks down during sepsis. As sepsis progresses, the immune system stops fighting the infection and becomes overactive, which can lead to severe sepsis, and even septic shock.
This can result in irreversible tissue damage, organ failure, and even death. Like a stroke or heart attack, sepsis is a medical emergency that requires rapid diagnosis and treatment with fluids and antibiotics.