Sepsis causes

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-In-Chief: Priyamvada Singh, M.D. [2]

Overview

The process of infection by bacteria or fungi can result in systemic signs and symptoms that are variously described. In rough order of severity, these are bacteremia or fungemia; septicemia; sepsis, severe sepsis or sepsis syndrome; septic shock; refractory septic shock; multiple organ dysfunction syndrome, and death. The condition develops as a response to certain microbial molecules which trigger the production and release of cellular mediators, such as tumor necrosis factors (TNF); these act to stimulate immune response. Besides TNFα, other cytokines involved in the development of septic shock include interleukin-1β, and interferon γ.

Causes

Sepsis is caused by a bacterial infection that can begin anywhere in the body. Common places where an infection might start include:

• The bowel (usually seen with peritonitis)
• The kidneys (upper urinary tract infection or pyelonephritis)
• The lining of the brain (meningitis)
• The liver or the gall bladder (cholecystitis)
• The lungs (bacterial pneumonia)
• The skin (cellulitis)
• In children, sepsis may accompany infection of the bone (osteomyelitis).
• In hospitalized patients, common sites of infection include intravenous lines, surgical wounds, surgical drains, and sites of skin breakdown known as bedsores (decubitus ulcers)

Causes in Alphabetical Order

• Anthrax
• Gangrene
• Gram negative bacteremia
• Lemierre syndrome
• Melioidosis
• Necrotizing enterocolitis
• Neisseria meningiditis
• Peritonitis
• Pseudomonas aeruginosa
• Vibrio vulnificus

Related Chapters

• Anaphylactic shock
• Cardiogenic shock
• Meningococcemia
• Neurogenic shock
• Sepsis
• Septic shock
• Shock
• Systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS)