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Septic shock is a result of a systemic response to infection or multiple infectious causes. The precipitating infections that may lead to septic shock if severe enough include but are not limited to appendicitis, pneumonia, bacteremia, diverticulitis, pyelonephritis, meningitis, pancreatitis, necrotizing fasciitis, MRSA and mesenteric ischemia.
The SOFA scoring system is useful in predicting the clinical outcomes of critically ill patients. [8] According to an observational study at an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in Belgium, the mortality rate is at least 50% when the score is increased, regardless of initial score, in the first 96 hours of admission, 27% to 35% if the score remains unchanged, and less than 27% if the score is reduced. [9]
A blood culture is a medical laboratory test used to detect bacteria or fungi in a person's blood.Under normal conditions, the blood does not contain microorganisms: their presence can indicate a bloodstream infection such as bacteremia or fungemia, which in severe cases may result in sepsis.
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In cases where diagnosis and appropriate treatment are delayed, the case fatality rate approaches 50%. Recovery is possible with appropriate, timely management of the illness. Mineralocorticoid and glucocorticoid treatments may be necessary depending on the recovering patient's electrolyte status and response to treatment.
If a persistent sore throat with signs of sepsis are found, physicians are cautioned to screen for Lemierre's syndrome. [15] Laboratory investigations reveal signs of a bacterial infection with elevated C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate and white blood cells (notably neutrophils). Platelet count can be low or high.
Purpura fulminans is a presenting feature of severe acute sepsis, such as Neisseria meningitidis, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Group A and B Streptococci, and less commonly with Haemophilus influenzae, Staphylococcus aureus, Capnocytophaga canimorsus [8] or Plasmodium falciparum (malaria) infections, particularly in individuals with asplenia.
This is especially the case if the sepsis gets worse, and even more if it becomes severe sepsis (where organ damage begins), septic shock (the organ damage continues, which lowers the blood pressure to the point where special drugs are needed to help keep it high enough), or multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (where organ damage can quickly ...