One year ago, I wrote about the sudden death of a close friend, Bob Tutt. Just two weeks earlier, he had been healthy. Then, without warning, he died from a blood clot — a condition I knew almost nothing about until it took a close friend. (Read that story here Watch Out for Death By Blood Clots)
This year, I’m writing about another friend — also named Bob. Bob Thompson, like Bob Tutt, was healthy just weeks before his death. And like the loss before it, his death was sudden and devastating. Bob Thompson died of sepsis — a disease I was slightly familiar with, but one I never imagined could take someone I knew so quickly.
I was wrong. And once again, I’m writing in the hope that sharing even a small amount of information might help save a life.
In April 2024, I wrote about sepsis following the death of former Kansas City Chiefs cheerleader Krystal “Krissy” Anderson, who died shortly after giving birth. That story focused on the alarming and disproportionate number of Black women who die from pregnancy-related complications. What I failed to fully communicate then — and what I understand now — is just how broad, fast-moving, and deadly sepsis can be, especially when it isn’t caught early.
Sepsis is notoriously difficult to diagnose. That reality makes personal awareness critical. Knowing the signs — and insisting that worsening symptoms are taken seriously — can make the difference between life and death.
What Is Sepsis?
Sepsis is the body’s extreme and life-threatening response to an infection. Instead of only fighting the infection, the immune system begins damaging healthy tissue and organs, triggering widespread inflammation. At the same time, abnormal blood clotting can restrict blood flow to vital organs, leading to organ failure.
What Causes Sepsis?
Sepsis begins with an infection. Common sources include:
- Respiratory infections such as pneumonia
- Urinary tract infections, especially in people with catheters
- Skin infections, including wounds or surgical sites
An infection in almost any part of the body can lead to sepsis.
Why Speed Matters
Sepsis is a medical emergency. Treatment must begin immediately. With early diagnosis, many people survive. Without treatment, severe sepsis is often fatal. Even with treatment, 30% to 40% of people with septic shock — the most severe stage — do not survive. In some cases, death can occur within 12 hours.
Who Is Most at Risk?
Sepsis can affect anyone, but higher-risk groups include:
- Adults over 65
- Pregnant people and newborns
- People with chronic illnesses or weakened immune systems
- Hospitalized patients or those with catheters, IVs, or breathing tubes
What Are the Symptoms of Sepsis?
Sepsis doesn’t always announce itself loudly — but ignoring symptoms can be deadly. Awareness saves lives.
Sepsis can affect multiple systems in the body, which means symptoms may vary from person to person and can worsen rapidly. Some signs may seem mild at first but escalate quickly.
Common symptoms include:
- Fever or abnormally low body temperature (hypothermia)
- Shaking or chills
- Fast heart rate
- Rapid breathing or shortness of breath
- Low blood pressure
- Extreme pain or discomfort
- Low energy, weakness, or fatigue
- Confusion, agitation, or changes in mental state
- Warm, clammy, or sweaty skin
- Reduced urination or trouble urinating
In some cases, sepsis may cause a rash — red or discolored skin with small, dark red or purple spots — especially when caused by bloodstream infections (sometimes called septicemia).
Any infection that appears to be worsening rather than improving should be taken seriously.
How Is Sepsis Diagnosed?
There is no single test that definitively diagnoses sepsis. Instead, healthcare providers rely on a combination of physical exams, medical history, lab tests, and imaging to make a rapid assessment.
Providers may use a bedside screening tool called quick Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (qSOFA). Sepsis may be suspected when an infection is present along with at least two of the following:
- Low blood pressure (systolic pressure under 100 mmHg)
- Rapid breathing (more than 22 breaths per minute)
- Altered mental status (confusion or reduced consciousness)
Additional diagnostic tests may include:
- Blood tests (complete blood count, blood cultures, kidney and liver function tests, clotting and electrolyte levels)
- Blood oxygen tests
- Urine tests (urinalysis and cultures)
- Imaging such as X-rays or CT scans to locate the source of infection
Early recognition is critical. Delays in diagnosis can be deadly.
How Is Sepsis Treated?
Sepsis is a medical emergency and is usually treated in a hospital’s intensive care unit (ICU).
Treatment may include:
- Antibiotics to fight bacterial infections
- IV fluids to maintain blood pressure and organ blood flow
- Vasopressor medications to raise dangerously low blood pressure
- Supportive care such as dialysis for kidney failure or mechanical ventilation for breathing failure
- Surgery to remove infected or damaged tissue when necessary
Prompt treatment significantly improves survival.
How Can Sepsis Be Prevented?
While not all cases can be prevented, risk can be reduced by:
- Practicing good hygiene, including frequent handwashing
- Keeping cuts and wounds clean and covered
- Staying current on recommended vaccinations
- Managing chronic conditions with regular medical care
- Seeking immediate medical attention if an infection worsens or doesn’t improve
Trust your instincts. If something feels wrong, insist on further evaluation. Early action saves lives.
