Sepsis information via nhs

Skip to main content Skip to main navigation Help with accessibility Go to NHS.UK homepage Enter a search term Menu Home Health A-Z Sepsis Causes Sepsis Overview Causes Treatment Page contents Sources of infection What causes the symptoms of sepsis? People at risk Causes Sepsis can be triggered by an infection in any part of the body. The most common sites of infection leading to sepsis are the lungs, urinary tract, tummy (abdomen) and pelvis. Sepsis may develop when you're already in hospital. For example, you're more likely to develop sepsis if: you've recently had surgery you've had a urinary catheter fitted you have to stay in hospital for a long time Sources of infection Types of infection associated with sepsis include: lung infection (pneumonia) appendicitis an infection of the thin layer of tissue that lines the inside of the abdomen (peritonitis) an infection of the bladder, urethra or kidneys (urinary tract infection) an infection of the gallbladder (cholecystitis) or bile ducts (cholangitis) skin infections, such as cellulitis – this can be caused by an intravenous catheter that's been inserted through the skin to give fluids or medication infections after surgery infections of the brain and nervous system – such as meningitis or encephalitis flu (in some cases) bone infection (osteomyelitis) heart infection (endocarditis) Sometimes the specific infection and source of sepsis can't be identified. What causes the symptoms of sepsis? Usually, your immune system keeps an infection limited to one place. This is known as a localised infection. Your body produces white blood cells, which travel to the site of the infection to destroy the germs causing infection. A series of biological processes occur, such as tissue swelling, which helps fight the infection and prevents it spreading. This process is known as inflammation. If your immune system is weak or an infection is particularly severe, it can quickly spread through the blood into other parts of the body. This causes the immune system to go into overdrive, and the inflammation affects the entire body. This can cause more problems than the initial infection, as widespread inflammation damages tissue and interferes with blood flow. The interruption in blood flow leads to a dangerous drop in blood pressure, which stops oxygen reaching your organs and tissues. People at risk Everybody is potentially at risk of developing sepsis from minor infections. However, some people are more vulnerable, including people who: have a medical condition that weakens their immune system – such as HIV or leukaemia are receiving medical treatment that weakens their immune system – such as chemotherapy or long-term steroids are very young or very old are pregnant have a long-term health condition – such as diabetes have just had surgery, or have wounds or injuries as a result of an accident are on mechanical ventilation – where a machine is used to help you breathe have drips or catheters attached to their skin are genetically prone to infections Sepsis is a particular risk for people already in hospital because of another serious illness. Bacterial infections that can be caught in hospital, such as MRSA, tend to be more serious, as these bacteria have often developed a resistance to many commonly used antibiotics. Page last reviewed: 24/02/2016 Next review due: 24/02/2019 Next page: Treatment Previous page: Overview NHS sites About us Contact us Sitemap Accessibility Our policies © Crown Copyright