sepsis
Body-wide bacterial crisis
Sepsis is a life-threatening condition in which the body's response to infection causes widespread inflammation and organ dysfunction.
What begins as a localized infection—pneumonia, a urinary tract infection, an infected wound—triggers an immune response that spirals out of control, damaging the body's own tissues.
Without rapid treatment, sepsis can progress to septic shock, where blood pressure drops dangerously and organs begin to fail.
The surgeon worried about sepsis setting in after the contaminated wound.
Elevated body temperature
- chillsShivering spells from illness
- tachycardiaExcessively fast pulse
- tachypneaAbnormally quick breathing rate
- hypotensionAbnormally reduced arterial pressure
confusion · delirium · lethargy · malaise · warm skin · cold extremities · mottled skin · hyperventilation
Pathogens present in bloodstream
- cytokine stormExcessive immune signaling crisis
- endotoxinBacterial wall toxin
- organ failureVital tissue stops functioning
- hypotensionAbnormally reduced arterial pressure
shock · vasodilation · acidosis · lactate · blood poisoning · toxemia · leukocytosis · immunocompromised
Infant just delivered
- neonateInfant under 28 days
- pretermBefore expected arrival
- low birth weightNeonate under 2500 grams
- NICUIntensive care for newborns
apnea · lethargy · poor feeding · jaundice
Acute care ward
- intensive care unitHospital ward for critical patients
- critical careTreatment for severe illness
- triageSeverity-based prioritization
- monitoringOngoing observation of something
ventilator · blood pressure · vital signs · rapid response · mortality · prognosis
Bacteria-destroying medicines
- vasopressorsDrugs that raise blood pressure
- central lineIV catheter to major vein
- mechanical ventilationMachine-assisted breathing support
- dialysisMechanical blood filtration
blood cultures · source control · broad-spectrum antibiotics · corticosteroids · norepinephrine · intravenous fluids · oxygen therapy · debridement
Nucleus-free single-celled organisms
- E. coliIntestinal rod-shaped bacterium
- PseudomonasBacterial genus, often pathogenic
- fungiSpore-reproducing decomposers
- pneumoniaInfected, inflamed lung tissue
urinary tract infection · wound infection · cellulitis · meningitis · endocarditis
fever
Elevated body temperature
- chillsShivering spells from illness
- tachycardiaExcessively fast pulse
- tachypneaAbnormally quick breathing rate
hypotension · confusion · delirium · lethargy · malaise · warm skin · cold extremities · mottled skin · hyperventilation · rigors
bacteremia
Pathogens present in bloodstream
- cytokine stormExcessive immune signaling crisis
- endotoxinBacterial wall toxin
- organ failureVital tissue stops functioning
hypotension · shock · vasodilation · acidosis · lactate · blood poisoning · toxemia · leukocytosis · immunocompromised · cascading failure
newborn
Infant just delivered
- neonateInfant under 28 days
- pretermBefore expected arrival
- low birth weightNeonate under 2500 grams
NICU · apnea · lethargy · poor feeding · jaundice
ICU
Acute care ward
- intensive care unitHospital ward for critical patients
- critical careTreatment for severe illness
- triageSeverity-based prioritization
monitoring · ventilator · blood pressure · vital signs · rapid response · mortality · prognosis
antibiotics
Bacteria-destroying medicines
- vasopressorsDrugs that raise blood pressure
- central lineIV catheter to major vein
- mechanical ventilationMachine-assisted breathing support
dialysis · blood cultures · source control · broad-spectrum antibiotics · corticosteroids · norepinephrine · intravenous fluids · oxygen therapy · debridement · drainage
bacteria
Nucleus-free single-celled organisms
- E. coliIntestinal rod-shaped bacterium
- PseudomonasBacterial genus, often pathogenic
- fungiSpore-reproducing decomposers
pneumonia · urinary tract infection · wound infection · cellulitis · meningitis · endocarditis
- surgerysurgery, surgeon, surgeons, operation, incision
- Blood Infectionsbloodstream infection, bacteremia, blood poisoning, viremia, systemic infection
- Sepsisblood poisoning, bacteremia, toxemia, toxic shock syndrome, toxic shock
- medicinedoctor, doctors, hospital, medicine, surgery
- diseasescancer, diabetes, tuberculosis, influenza, measles
- infectionsviral infection, bacterial infection, fungal infection, parasitic infection, bacteremia
sepsissterility
Absence of microbes or fertility
asepsis · uninfected · pathogen-free · clean · antisepsis
sepsishealth
Condition of body, mind
wellness · homeostasis · recovery · remission · convalescence
antiseptic, septic, aseptic, sepal, septicemia, antiseptics, septicemic, aseptically