Stages of Sepsis: What You Need to Know

“Sepsis” sounds like a villain from a superhero movie. In a way, it is. It’s a life-threatening condition where your body’s immune system goes haywire while trying to fight an infection.

Sepsis is a serious medical emergency. So it’s important to understand the stages of sepsis to catch it early and avoid serious complications. We’ll break them down for you below.

What is Sepsis?

Sepsis happens when your body overreacts to an infection. Normally, your immune system fights off infections in an orderly way. But sometimes, it goes overboard and starts attacking everything in sight, including your own organs and tissues.

 This causes inflammation, which can lead to organ damage or even death if left untreated. The stages of sepsis are like warning signs, telling you to get help before things get worse. Sepsis is one of those things you don’t hear about much until it happens to someone you know. But according to the CDC, over 1.7 million Americans are affected by sepsis each year. Around 350,000 people die from it.

Infections Can Lead to Sepsis

Here are some common types of infections that could lead to sepsis:

• Urinary tract infections (UTIs)
• Lung infections (Pneumonia)
• Abdominal infections like appendicitis
• Skin infections (Wounds, cuts, or cellulitis can become infected)
• Bloodstream infections
• Infections in bones or bone marrow
• Surgical site infections

It’s not very common for doctors to miss an infection or fail to treat it. But it happens! When it does, it could be considered sepsis negligence and warrant a malpractice lawsuit.

Stages of Sepsis Explained

Sepsis doesn’t usually start with a bang. It sneaks up on you, so it’s important to know the different sepsis stages and their symptoms.

1. Early Stage Sepsis

The first stage of sepsis is called SIRS. That stands for Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome. In this stage, it’s like your body’s fire alarm goes off. Your heart rate goes up. You might get a fever or feel very cold. 

Your breathing rate speeds up, and you might feel confused or dizzy. These symptoms are a sign that your body is trying to fight off an infection, but it’s starting to panic. It might feel like you’re suddenly running a marathon while sitting on the couch. 

2. Severe Sepsis

If the infection isn’t treated, sepsis can progress to its severe stage. At this point, your organs start to feel the heat. You might have trouble breathing, and your urine output could drop because your kidneys are struggling. Blood pressure may also fall. Basically, your body is waving a big, red flag.

At this point, you could experience organ dysfunction. The damage can be permanent if left untreated. 

3. Septic Shock

Septic shock is the most serious of the sepsis stages. Your blood pressure drops dangerously low, and your organs are at risk of shutting down. You’re having severe trouble breathing. 

At this point, it’s a full-on medical emergency, and immediate treatment is critical. Without intervention, septic shock can be fatal. Some people have a stroke or heart failure during this stage of sepsis. 

About 40% of people with septic shock don’t survive. That’s why it’s crucial to act fast when you see the warning signs.

How Fast Do the Stages of Sepsis Progress?

For some, the progression from mild sepsis to septic shock can take days. In others, it can happen in just a few hours.

 The speed depends on various factors, like the person’s age, underlying health conditions, and how aggressive the infection is. 

The key to slowing down sepsis progression is to act fast. Early recognition and treatment with antibiotics and fluids can prevent the condition from worsening and may save a life.

Risk Factors for Sepsis

Some people are at higher risk of developing sepsis than others. Here are some key risk factors:

• Age: Infants, children, and older adults are more vulnerable to sepsis.
• Weak Immune System: People with conditions like HIV/AIDS, cancer, or those undergoing chemotherapy have weakened immune systems.
• Chronic Illnesses: Conditions like diabetes, kidney disease, and chronic lung disease.
• Severe infections: Such as pneumonia, urinary tract infections, or abdominal infections.
• Recent surgery or hospitalization
• Using invasive medical devices like catheters, IV lines, or ventilators.
• Open wounds and injuries, especially in unsanitary conditions.

Remember, people can get sepsis even if they don’t have any of the risk factors above. Sometimes sepsis takes everyone by surprise. 

That was true for Christopher Schutzius, a teen in Illinois who died of sepsis after a root canal. He was a 17-year-old high schooler in good health before he got the procedure. But a few days afterward, he developed strange flu-like symptoms. 

The sepsis stages advanced too quickly for anyone to notice. By the time Christopher’s family got him to the hospital, he was in septic shock. He had to be put on life support, and died shortly after. An investigation was launched to determine if his death was due to negligence.

Treatment for the Stages of Sepsis

Sepsis is like a fire—you need to put it out quickly before it spreads. Doctors usually treat sepsis with antibiotics to fight the underlying infection. If caught in the early stages of sepsis, treatment can stop the condition before it gets worse.

Here’s a quick breakdown of common treatments for sepsis stages:

• Antibiotics: These will attack the infection.
• IV fluids: These help maintain blood pressure and keep organs functioning.
• Oxygen: If you’re having trouble breathing, doctors might provide oxygen.
• Blood pressure medications: In severe sepsis or septic shock, medications can help stabilize your blood pressure.
• For severe cases, mechanical ventilation or kidney dialysis may be needed. 

How Long Can You Live with Sepsis Untreated?

Let’s get straight to the point: not long. Sepsis can progress quickly through its stages if it’s not treated. In some cases, it can become life-threatening within a matter of hours. 

If you suspect you have sepsis, don’t try to “tough it out.” This is not the time to be a hero. The longer you wait, the worse it gets. By the time you reach septic shock, your organs are failing, and survival becomes much more difficult.

Taking Legal Action for Sepsis Negligence

Unfortunately, sepsis isn’t always caught in time, and sometimes it’s due to negligence. Many times it happens in hospitals or nursing homes. 

These places have hygiene and cleaning protocols. But they aren’t always followed. Elderly folks can get bed sores that no one notices until they’re severely infected. Patients in hospitals can get hospital-acquired infections, meaning they got an infection while in the hospital. 

Medical malpractice happens when healthcare providers fail to recognize or properly treat the stages of sepsis.

Some examples of negligence include:

• Failing to recognize symptoms early enough.
• Delaying treatment after diagnosis.
• Not providing appropriate antibiotics or fluids.

If you or a loved one suffered from untreated or misdiagnosed sepsis, you might have legal options. Your next step should be to contact a medical malpractice lawyer. 

Many people aren’t aware that sepsis negligence can be grounds for a lawsuit. Taking legal action not only helps you recover damages but also holds healthcare providers accountable, ensuring that others don’t suffer the same fate.