| Commonly called a "blood
stream infection." The presence of bacteria (bacteremia) or other
infectious organisms or their toxins in the blood (septicemia) or in other
tissue of the body. Sepsis may be associated with clinical symptoms of
systemic (body-wide) illness, such as fever, chills, malaise (generally
feeling "rotten"), low blood pressure, and mental status changes. Sepsis
can be a serious situation, a life threatening disease calling for urgent
and comprehensive care.
Treatment depends on the type of infection, but usually begins with
antibiotics or similar medications.
Also known as blood poisoning, septicemia. |
