I was told a pt could have sepsis for 1-2 wks before it overwhelms the body eg if it begins in an abscess could the same occur with a pulmonary source?

YES: YES. Any source of infection can enter the bloodstream.

Not so: Bacteremia (bacteria in the blood), of course. An abscess seeds the bloodstream, and this explains the common phenomenon of a variably spiking fever when an occult abscess is present. Sepsis (bacteria multiplying, maybe doubling their populations every twenty minutes IN the bloodstream), no. I'm concerned, Steve, as to why you're asking. Perhaps there's a misunderstanding. Best wishes.