What Are the Three Stages of Sepsis?

The National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) reports that at least 1.7 million adults are hospitalized for sepsis each year, with 350,000 of those people dying from the condition.

Sepsis is a life-threatening condition that can develop rapidly, often catching patients and healthcare Sepsis is a serious medical condition triggered by the body’s response to an infection. When the immune system responds to an infection, it can sometimes release chemicals into the bloodstream that cause widespread inflammation throughout the body.

This inflammation can cause a cascade of functional changes that can damage multiple organ systems and, if not treated properly and promptly, can potentially lead to organ failure and death.

Understanding the three stages of sepsis is crucial because early detection and treatment can be the difference between life and death.

What Is Sepsis?

Before looking into the individual stages, it’s important to grasp what sepsis truly is. Sepsis is not an infection itself but rather the body’s extreme reaction to an infection, such as those common with bedsores.

When bacteria or viruses enter the bloodstream or tissues, our immune system releases chemicals to fight them off. However, in the case of sepsis, this response goes haywire, causing widespread inflammation throughout the body, leading to blood clots, leaky blood vessels, tissue damage, and ultimately organ failure.

Anyone can develop sepsis, but it’s typically more common to see it in those with weakened immune systems, the elderly, infants, or people suffering from chronic medical conditions.

Early diagnosis of sepsis is important to help ensure swift treatment, which can drastically improve outcomes.

Stage 1: Sepsis

The first stage of this reaction, simply known as sepsis, is where the body’s response to infection begins to increase.

At stage one, the immune system begins to release chemicals into the bloodstream to combat the detected infection. This process, however, can lead to inflammation in various parts of the body. When the inflammation isn’t limited to just the area of the body affected by infection—it spreads to multiple organs and tissues.

Symptoms of Sepsis (Stage 1)

Symptoms of stage one sepsis are often subtle at first, and that can make it challenging to detect and diagnose sepsis early. Victims of sepsis may experience any combination of the following symptoms:

• Fever or Hypothermia: A fever above 101°F (38.3°C) or a low body temperature below 96.8°F (36°C).
• Rapid Heart Rate: A heart rate above 90 beats per minute.
• Rapid Breathing: More than 20 breaths per minute.
• Altered Mental State: Confusion, disorientation, or a feeling of impending doom.

If the victim has a suspected or confirmed infection and is showing two or more of these symptoms, sepsis is likely the culprit.

At stage one, it’s crucial to seek professional medical attention immediately. The early administration of antibiotics, intravenous fluids, and other treatments can help prevent sepsis from progressing to the second, more dangerous stage.

Stage 2: Severe Sepsis

If stage one sepsis isn’t treated quickly, it can advance to stage two, or “severe sepsis”.

By this point, the inflammation and infection have started affecting proper organ function. The body’s inflammatory response worsens, and the necessary blood flow to vital organs (heart, brain, kidneys, etc.,) begins to decrease, leading to potential damage to those organs.

Symptoms of Severe Sepsis

The symptoms of severe sepsis are more pronounced and may include:

• Decreased Urine Output: As the kidneys become impaired, urine production drops significantly.
• Abnormal Heart Function: An irregular heartbeat or abnormally high heart rate can develop.
• Sudden Changes in Mental Status: This often includes confusion, agitation, or an inability to stay conscience can follow.
• Bluish Skin or Lips: A common indicator of oxygen deprivation in the bloodstream, this is a sign that blood circulation is compromised.
• Low Platelet Count: When the blood’s platelet count is reduced, so is its ability to clot, This can lead to easy bruising or bleeding.

Severe sepsis is a critical condition that requires immediate medical intervention.

Treatment for this stage often required more aggressive measures including high-dose antibiotics, intravenous fluids, oxygen therapy, and sometimes even more drastic measures like surgery to cut out the source of infection.

The sooner these treatments begin, the better chance a victim has of avoiding further organ damage.

Stage 3: Septic Shock

Septic shock is the final and most severe stage of sepsis. This happens when severe sepsis (stage two) results in dangerously low and unresponsive blood pressure.

As a result of the reduced pressure, organs may be deprived of adequate blood flow, leading to a serious risk of multiple and catastrophic organ failure.

Recognizing Symptoms of Septic Shock

The symptoms of septic shock are extreme and often life-threatening. These include:

• Significantly Low Blood Pressure: Even with fluid replacement, blood pressure remains abnormally low.
• Severe Shortness of Breath: The lungs struggle to oxygenate the blood, causing the patient to become extremely breathless.
• Cold, Clammy Skin: The body redirects blood to vital organs, leaving the skin cold, pale, or mottled.
• Rapid, Weak Pulse: The heart works harder to pump blood, resulting in a weak, rapid pulse.
• Organ Failure: The kidneys may stop producing urine, the liver can fail to filter toxins, and the heart may begin to falter.

Septic shock requires immediate treatment in an intensive care unit (ICU). Interventions may include vasopressors (medications that increase blood pressure), mechanical ventilation, kidney dialysis, and continuous monitoring.

An episode of septic shock can increase the risk of future infections, as well.

Despite these aggressive treatments, septic shock often has a high death rate, which is why rapid intervention in the earlier stages of sepsis is so critical. According to the Mayo Clinic, these mortality rates can be as high as 45% in hospitals and up to 75% for those who develop septic shock at home.

Early Detection and Treatment

The key to surviving sepsis lies in early detection and swift treatment. The sooner a person with sepsis receives medical intervention, the better their chances of recovery. If you suspect you or a loved one might have an infection and notice symptoms like fever, rapid heart rate, difficulty breathing, or confusion, don’t wait—seek medical care immediately.

Sepsis is a medical emergency that progresses through three stages: sepsis, severe sepsis, and septic shock. Recognizing the symptoms at each stage and understanding the urgency of seeking treatment can make all the difference.

While sepsis is a serious condition with potentially life-threatening consequences, proper diagnosis and early intervention can significantly improve the victim’s chances of survival.

If you suspect you or a loved one might have an infection and notice related symptoms, don’t wait—seek medical care immediately, or, if you believe that a delayed or misdiagnosed case of sepsis has led to injury or death, an experienced medical malpractice attorney can help you seek justice.

By being informed and proactive, you can help protect yourself and others from the devastating effects of sepsis.