What is sepsis?

A severe infection: Sepsis is the term used by doctors to describe a severe, life-threatening bloodstream infection. Sepsis can cause your baby's organs to fail. If untreated, sepsis can be fatal. Treatment with intravenous fluids and antibiotics, and close monitoring in the hospital can prevent serious complications.

Blood infection: "sepsis" refers to a very severe blood infection that happens in certain children. Some babies are at higher risk (babies in hospitals who have indwelling IV catheters, children with immune deficiencies, severe premature infants or infants born to mothers with active infections). Most children with sepsis have high fever and act very ill. This is a serious illness that can be treatable.

Severe infection: If an infective agent travels to the blood stream and spreads, it could cause what is called sepsis. With sepsis the body is greatly challenged to fight the infection. In severe cases the patient may go into multi-organ failure, shock, or even death. Have it evaluated and get the appropriate treatment. You may need oral or intravenous antibiotics, oxygen, IV fluid and pain medication.

Sepsis: There are now a set of 4 criteria that define sepsis. High or low WBC count, pulse of >90, respirations of 20 or greater and temperature elevation or hypothermia. Any 2 of these when infection is present constitutes "sepsis". There are further criteria for severe sepsis, septic shock and sepsis with multiorgan failure.

Clinical diagnosis: Sepsis is a clinical diagnosis - there is no lab test for sepsis. Lab tests are used to assist in the diagnosis of sepsis. Look at the SOFA score to see how clinical information is put together to determine if someone has sepsis https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SOFA_score The SOFA score uses vital signs, physical exam, and lab tests to help determine if someone has sepsis