Alternative Names
Bacteremic shock; Endotoxic shock; Septicemic shock; Warm shock
Definition of Septic shock
Septic shock is a serious condition that occurs when an overwhelming infection leads to life-threatening low blood pressure.
Causes, incidence, and risk factors
Septic shock occurs most often in the very old and the very young. It also occurs in people who have other illnesses.
Symptoms
Septic shock can affect any part of the body, including the heart, brain, kidneys, liver, and intestines. Symptoms may include:
Signs and tests
Blood tests may be done to check for infection, low blood oxygen level, disturbances in the body’s acid-base balance, or poor organ function or organ failure.
Treatment
Septic shock is a medical emergency. Patients are usually admitted to the intensive care unit of the hospital.
Expectations (prognosis)
Septic shock has a high death rate. The death rate depends on the patient’s age and overall health, the cause of the infection, how many organs have failed, and how quickly and aggressively medical therapy is started.
Review
Jacob L. Heller, MD, MHA, Emergency Medicine, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, Washington. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc. – 1/14/2010
