Sepsis 101

By Editor On Sep 25, 2026

September is Sepsis Awareness Month.

Many people first hear about sepsis when someone they know receives the diagnosis or when it is mentioned on a medical television series. But hearing the word and knowing what it means are two different things.

Sepsis is a life-threatening medical emergency and requires immediate treatment. Although more than 1.7 million people develop sepsis in the United States each year and 350,000 people die from it, most people do not know all of the symptoms or risk factors of sepsis.

Here’s what sepsis is, what causes it, and why early detection and treatment are important.

What is Sepsis?

Many people believe that sepsis is an infection, and although this is not true, the confusion is understandable: without an infection, there can be no sepsis.

Consider a bee sting allergy. When a bee stings you, it hurts, but for most people, that’s the worst thing. However, if you are allergic to bees, your immune system overreacts and triggers an allergic reaction – a whole body (systemic) reaction – that can lead to anaphylactic shock and death. No bee sting means no allergic reaction. Likewise, no infection means there is no sepsis.

An infection can start small, such as an insect bite or abrasion, or it can occur in the body, such as a urinary tract infection (urinary tract infection) or pneumonia. Antibiotics usually eliminate bacterial infections. In viral infections like the flu, the virus disappears over time. However, in some people, the immune system goes into overdrive, causing a systemic reaction called sepsis, which can lead to septic shock.

Who gets sepsis?

Anyone can develop sepsis, but some groups of people are at higher risk:

Many people believe that sepsis is something that starts in a hospital. In fact, most cases of sepsis develop outside of the hospital – when someone is at home, at work or at school. And that makes sense. People develop infections all the time. You cut your finger while gardening, scratch your knee while exercising, get a urinary tract infection, or catch one of the many viruses circulating.

While any type of infection can cause sepsis, no matter how minor it seems, some infections are more likely to cause sepsis than others. Three common sources are:

Respiratory infections such as pneumonia or flu
Urinary tract infections, including complicated urinary tract infections (cUTIs) and kidney stones
Intestinal infections, especially if accompanied by a perforated intestine

Sepsis symptoms

While any type of infection can cause sepsis, the reality is that most infections do not. It is possible for two people to get the flu at the same time. One could develop sepsis while the other recovers quickly.

Researchers don’t know why some people get sepsis and others don’t. And to make matters even more frustrating, sepsis can be difficult to detect. There is no single test for sepsis and signs can be vague. Instead, we have to put puzzle pieces together.

Think about it to remember the most common signs and symptoms TIME:

TTemperature: Higher or lower than usual
IInfection: Known or possible infection (for example, have you recently had a dental procedure, an invasive medical procedure, or been recently exposed to a virus?)
MChange in dental status: Are you sleepier than usual or do you feel confused? Has the disease suddenly worsened or changed in people with dementia?
EExtreme Illness: Severe pain, discomfort, and shortness of breath are symptoms of sepsis.

It is important to seek emergency help immediately if you think you are suffering from sepsis. But don’t drive yourself to the hospital – your situation could change quickly and drastically along the way. Call 911 and tell them you suspect sepsis.

Read: The Christmas that almost wasn’t after I survived septic shock >>

Pregnancy and sepsis

Maternal sepsis, sepsis resulting from infection during pregnancy, childbirth, or postpartum, is a serious problem. Sepsis can be more difficult to detect during pregnancy and after birth. For example, when someone is pregnant, their heartbeat is naturally faster. And they pee more often, which can be a sign of a urinary tract infection.

Risk factors that may increase the risk of sepsis during this time include:

Being pregnant for the first time
diabetes
Getting pregnant through invasive procedures
Performing invasive tests during pregnancy
Minimal or no health insurance
To be black

Aside from infections that can affect anyone, infections during pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum can be caused by:

Caesarean sections (during the procedure or the wound itself)
Prematurely ruptured membranes (water breaks too early)
Tissue retention due to pregnancy loss or abortion

Given this information, it is important that you seek help if you feel like something is wrong. Tell your doctor you are worried and why.

Can sepsis be prevented?

The only way to prevent sepsis is to prevent infection. If you have an infection, the sooner you treat it, the better.

Here are some steps you can take to protect yourself from sepsis:

Wash your hands. This simple step is one of the most effective ways to prevent infections.
Stay up to date on vaccines. Sepsis can occur with any preventable illness, including the flu.
Make sure to properly care for all wounds. Always wash your hands before touching a wound. Rinse it off with clean water. If necessary, apply an antibiotic ointment as directed on the product packaging. Cover the wound to keep it clean. If you notice redness in the area, the skin around the wound becomes warm, or discharge appears, contact your doctor as soon as possible.
Follow instructions when taking antibiotics. If your doctor prescribes antibiotics for a bacterial infection, take the full dose for the entire duration, even if you feel better. This is important to ensure that all bacteria are truly eliminated and to reduce the risk of antibiotic resistance.
Avoid unnecessary antibiotics. Do not take antibiotics for viral infections such as the flu or cold. Unnecessary antibiotics do not help and pose the risk of antibiotic resistance.

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