Septic shock
Septic shock
Septic shock is a life-threatening condition. It happens when, after an infection, your blood pressure falls to a dangerously low level.
Any kind of bacteria can cause the infection behind it. Fungi such as candida and viruses can also be a cause, though this is rare.
At first, the infection can trigger a reaction called sepsis. This begins with:
- weakness
- chills
- a rapid heart rate and rapid breathing
If it is not treated, toxins produced by the bacteria can damage the small blood vessels, causing them to leak fluid into the surrounding tissues.
This can affect your heart's ability to pump blood to your organs. Your blood pressure drops, and blood no longer reaches vital organs such as the brain and liver.
Common Symptoms
Symptom information is not available for this condition yet.
Emergency Warning Signs
Call 999 straight away if you think that you, or someone you are looking after, has symptoms of septic shock, such as:
- low blood pressure (hypotension) that leaves you feeling dizzy when you stand up
- a change in mental state, such as confusion or disorientation
- diarrhoea
- nausea and vomiting
- skin that feels cold, clammy and looks pale
Who is more at risk of developing septic shock?
Septic shock is more likely in people whose immune system is weakened.
This includes:
- newborn babies
- elderly people
- pregnant women
- people living with long-term health conditions, such as diabetes, cirrhosis or kidney failure
- people whose immune system is lowered, such as those with HIV or AIDS, or those having chemotherapy
⚠️ This symptom list is for educational purposes. Having these symptoms does not mean you have this condition. See a doctor for proper diagnosis.
Medicines Commonly Used
⚠️ These medicines are commonly used for confirmed diagnoses of this condition. This is NOT a recommendation or prescription. Treatment must be determined by your doctor.
No medicines have been linked to this condition yet.
When to See a Doctor
Call 999 straight away if you think that you, or someone you are looking after, has symptoms of septic shock, such as:
- low blood pressure (hypotension) that leaves you feeling dizzy when you stand up
- a change in mental state, such as confusion or disorientation
- diarrhoea
- nausea and vomiting
- skin that feels cold, clammy and looks pale
Who is more at risk of developing septic shock?
Septic shock is more likely in people whose immune system is weakened.
This includes:
- newborn babies
- elderly people
- pregnant women
- people living with long-term health conditions, such as diabetes, cirrhosis or kidney failure
- people whose immune system is lowered, such as those with HIV or AIDS, or those having chemotherapy
Treatment
If you develop septic shock, you will usually be admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU), where doctors can support your body's functions and organs while the infection is being treated. In some cases, treatment may begin in the emergency department before you are moved to the ICU.
Treatment may include:
- oxygen therapy
- fluids given directly into a vein (intravenously)
- medicines to increase your blood flow
- antibiotics
- surgery (in some cases)
Oxygen therapy
To help you breathe more easily, you will be given oxygen through a face mask, a small tube placed in your nose, or an endotracheal tube passed into your mouth and down your windpipe. If you have severe shortness of breath, a mechanical ventilator (a breathing machine) may be used to breathe for you.
Increasing blood flow
You will probably be given fluids directly into a vein. This helps raise your blood pressure by increasing the amount of fluid in your blood.
To improve the flow of blood to your vital organs, such as your brain, liver, kidneys and heart, you may be prescribed inotropic medicines or vasopressors.
Inotropic medicines
Inotropic medicines (inotropes), such as dobutamine, stimulate your heart. They make each heartbeat stronger, which helps carry oxygen-rich blood to the tissues and organs that need it.
Vasopressors
Vasopressors include:
- dopamine
- adrenaline
- noradrenaline
These medicines make your blood vessels narrower, which raises your blood pressure and improves the flow of blood around your body. This allows your vital organs to start working properly again.
Antibiotics
Antibiotics are often used to treat the bacterial infection behind the septic shock. The type of antibiotic chosen depends on the kind of bacterial infection and where in the body it started.
You may be started on antibiotics straight away, as this improves your chances of survival. At first, two or three different antibiotics may be given together. Once the bacterium causing the infection has been identified, doctors can switch to the single most effective antibiotic.
Surgery
In severe cases of sepsis or septic shock, the sharp drop in blood pressure and blood flow can cause organ tissue to die. If this happens, surgery may be needed to remove the dead tissue.
Complications
Whether someone survives septic shock depends on a few things: what caused the infection, how many organs have stopped working properly, and how quickly treatment was started.
Septic shock can lead to serious complications, including:
- the lungs being unable to take in enough oxygen (respiratory failure)
- the heart being unable to pump enough blood around the body (heart failure)
- kidney failure or kidney injury
- abnormal blood clotting
These are serious conditions that need urgent treatment. It is because of complications like these that septic shock can be fatal.