Causes of Septic Shock: What You Need to Know

Septic shock, a potentially fatal illness, happens when your body reacts violently to an infection. If not treated very away, it might result in organ failure, low blood pressure, and even death. This blog post will cover the causes of septic shock, how to avoid it, and what to do if you or a loved one exhibits sepsis signs.

What is sepsis and septic shock?

The term “sepsis” refers to the body’s reaction to an infection that enters the bloodstream. Organ function may be impacted by the inflammation and immune system changes it brings about. Sepsis has three stages, as follows:

• Sepsis: When an infection enters the bloodstream, the body becomes inflamed.
• Severe sepsis: Organ function is impacted by the infection’s severity.
• Septic shock: There is a severe drop in blood pressure, which may result in heart or respiratory failure, stroke, other organ malfunction, and even death.

The deadliest stage of sepsis, septic shock, necessitates prompt medical treatment. If not treated immediately, it is extremely deadly with a hospital mortality rate of 30–50%.

What causes septic shock?

Any infection that enters the bloodstream, including bacterial, fungal, and viral infections, can result in septic shock. The following are some typical causes of infection that can cause septic shock:

• Infections of the abdomen or digestive system
• pneumonia and other lung infections
• infections of the urinary tract
• infected reproductive systems

Septic shock is caused by a series of events that the infection sets off. The body’s infection-fighting mechanisms kick in, leading to tissue damage, issues with blood clotting, fluid leaks from blood vessels, and decreased blood flow to essential organs. The heart, lungs, kidneys, liver, brain, and other organs are all affected, and the blood pressure drops in a way that can’t be reversed by fluids.

Who is at risk of septic shock?

Septic shock can strike anyone, although some people are more susceptible than others. Septic shock risk factors include:

• Age: People with weakened immune systems and extremely low body mass are more likely to suffer severe illnesses.
• A compromised immune system: makes people more vulnerable to infections and sepsis, including those with HIV, autoimmune diseases, cancer, diabetes, cirrhosis, and kidney failure.
• Injury: The introduction of microorganisms into the body by burns, wounds, surgery, or other intrusive treatments raises the possibility of infection.
• Hospitalization: Being in a hospital exposes individuals to more germs and raises their risk of developing an infection from catheters or medical equipment.

How can you prevent septic shock?

Preventing infections in the first place is the greatest method to stop septic shock. You can take the following actions to lessen your risk of infection:

• Get immunized to prevent the flu, pneumonia, and other illnesses that can lead to sepsis.
• By often washing your hands, properly tending to wounds, and avoiding contact with sick people, practice excellent hygiene.
• Control long-term illnesses that can impair your immune system, such as diabetes or high blood pressure.
• Smoking can harm your lungs and increase your susceptibility to illnesses, so give it up.

If you do contract an infection, receive treatment right once and abide by your doctor’s recommendations. If your doctor has not instructed you to discontinue taking antibiotics, do not. Keep an eye on your symptoms and be alert for any indications of an infection or sepsis getting worse.

What are the symptoms of septic shock?

Depending on the nature and degree of the infection as well as the organs involved, septic shock symptoms can change. However, the following are some typical indicators of septic shock:

• reduced blood pressure
• Arms and legs that are cold and pale
• Chills
• Cyanosis, bluish staining of the lips or fingers
• Having trouble breathing
• reduced urine production
• Confusion
• Dizziness

Call 911 or head to the closest emergency room right away if you or anyone else you know exhibits any of these signs of infection. Septic shock is a medical emergency that needs to be identified and treated very away.

How is septic shock diagnosed?

Doctors will conduct a physical examination, inquire about your medical history, and question you about your symptoms in order to identify septic shock. They’ll also request a few tests to see whether an infection is present, evaluate the health of your organs, and take your blood pressure. The following tests may be performed:

• Blood tests: To examine your blood for viruses, germs, fungus, clotting issues, electrolyte imbalances, and abnormal liver or kidney function.
• Urine tests: To look for kidney or urinary tract infections.
• An open wound or skin lesion culture test: To determine the type of bacteria inflicting the infection.
• Tests on mucus secretion: To identify the kind of bacterium causing the infection in your nose, throat, or lungs.
• Imaging tests: To obtain an interior view of your body and search for any issues or the cause of an illness. X-rays, ultrasounds, CT scans, and MRIs are a few examples.
• Analyzing your cerebrospinal fluid (CSF): can help determine whether your brain or spinal cord is infected.

How is septic shock treated?

Controlling the infection, regaining blood pressure and blood flow, and supporting organ function are the main goals of treating septic shock. The procedure might involve:

• Antibiotics: To eradicate the fungus or bacteria that are infecting you. These are typically administered intravenously (via a vein), though the dosage may fluctuate according to the findings of the culture tests.
• Fluids: To help relieve dehydration and raise blood pressure and organ blood flow. These may include saline, water, or blood products and are also administered intravenously.
• Vasopressors: To help elevate blood pressure by constricting blood arteries. These are drugs that are administered intravenously and may contain dopamine, phenylephrine, norepinephrine, or epinephrine.
• Corticosteroids: To minimize inflammation and enhance the response to fluids and vasopressors, corticosteroids are used. These drugs are also injected intravenously and might contain hydrocortisone or dexamethasone.
• oxygen therapy: To improve your breathing and give your organs more oxygen. A mask, a tube in your nose, or a ventilator (a device that breathes for you) may be used for this.
• Surgery: To remove any damaged tissue or the infection’s cause. This can entail amputating a limb, emptying an abscess, or removing a section of the gut.

What are the complications of septic shock?

Complications from septic shock can be deadly, severe, and life-threatening. Following are a few examples of septic shock complications:

• Heart Failure: A condition in which the heart is unable to pump enough blood to meet the body’s requirements.
• Abnormal blood clotting: When blood clots form in the blood vessels and obstruct blood flow to the organs or limbs, this is known as abnormal blood clotting.
• Failure of the kidneys: properly filter waste from the blood and control fluid balance.
• Failure of the respiratory system: occurs when the lungs are unable to adequately oxygenate the blood or remove carbon dioxide from it.
• Stroke: Brain injury that results when a blood clot or bleeding prevents blood flow to the brain.
• Liver Failure: When the liver is unable to produce bile, detoxify the blood, and control metabolism, this condition is known as liver failure.
• Multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS): When two or more organs malfunction simultaneously, it is known as multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS).

What is the recovery outlook for septic shock?

The likelihood of recovery from septic shock depends on a variety of circumstances, including:

• How severe and what kind of an infection it is
• The sepsis stages
• The patient’s age and general health
• The effectiveness and timeliness of the treatment
• The presence and severity of complications

Some individuals may completely recover from septic shock with no long-term consequences. Others can suffer organ or limb damage that requires ongoing medical attention or rehabilitation. Despite getting treatment, some patients may not recover from septic shock. Seeking medical attention as soon as you discover any symptoms of infection or sepsis will significantly increase your chances of surviving and recovering from septic shock. Septic shock and its consequences can often be avoided with early diagnosis and treatment.

Conclusion:

If not treated right away, septic shock is a dangerous disease that can be fatal. It happens when an infection triggers a strong immune response in your body that impairs organ and blood pressure function. By avoiding infections, obtaining medical attention at the first symptom of an infection or sepsis, and according to your doctor’s treatment recommendations, you can avoid developing septic shock. You will require intensive care in a hospital if you have a septic shock in order to manage the infection, improve your blood pressure and blood flow, and support the function of your organs. Surgery can also be required to remove the infection’s origin or any damaged tissue. Serious complications from septic shock might lower your quality of life or even result in death. The likelihood of life and recovery in septic shock varies based on a variety of factors, although early diagnosis and treatment can increase your chances.

We hope that this blog post has clarified the causes of septic shock for you.