Sepsis is a life-threatening condition that arises when the body's response to infection causes injury to its tissues and organs. Common signs and symptoms include fever, increased heart rate, increased breathing rate, and confusion. Although sepsis is potentially life-threatening, the illness ranges from mild to severe.
Severe sepsis causes poor organ function and/or blood flow and can lead to septic shock. If sepsis progresses to septic shock, blood pressure drops dramatically. This may lead to death. Septic shock is a common cause of mortality mainly in critically ill patients. According to the Mayo Clinic, septic shock has close to a 40 percent mortality rate.
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