The following video from the Centers for Disease Control is about sepsis; what it is and how to prevent it. It affects people who are hospitalized most often, but sepsis can result from any infection, whether bacterial, fungal or viral. Sepsis does tend to come from infections in the bladder, bloodstream, and kidneys, or from pneumonia.
Sepsis appears to be on the rise in the United States, according to the Mayo Clinic, but it is not known why. There are suggestions that it is because of an aging population, or from an increase in the number of people with compromised immunity, such as those infected with HIV. It has also been hypothesized that the increase is linked to the rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
People can recover from mild sepsis, but it can also be a deadly condition. The mortality rate is around 50 percent. Knowing the signs of sepsis, and responding to them quickly, can help prevent the worst outcomes. A confirmed infection, in addition to elevated heart rate, high body temperature, and increased respiratory rate are part of the diagnostic criteria for the condition. Learn more from the video.