Sepsis causes

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-In-Chief: Priyamvada Singh, M.D. [2]

Overview

The process of infection by bacteria or fungi can result in systemic signs and symptoms that are variously described. In rough order of severity, these are bacteremia or fungemia; septicemia; sepsis, severe sepsis or sepsis syndrome; septic shock; refractory septic shock; multiple organ dysfunction syndrome, and death. The condition develops as a response to certain microbial molecules which trigger the production and release of cellular mediators, such as tumor necrosis factors (TNF); these act to stimulate immune response.

Causes

Common Causes

Sepsis is caused by a bacterial infection that can begin anywhere in the body. Common places where an infection might start include:

• The bowel (usually seen with peritonitis)
• The kidneys (upper urinary tract infection or pyelonephritis)
• The lining of the brain (meningitis)
• The liver or the gall bladder (cholecystitis)
• The lungs (bacterial pneumonia)
• The skin (cellulitis)
• In children, sepsis may accompany infection of the bone (osteomyelitis).
• In hospitalized patients, common sites of infection include intravenous lines, surgical wounds, surgical drains, and sites of skin breakdown known as bedsores (decubitus ulcers).

Causes by Organ System

Cardiovascular	Acute bacterial endocarditis, Myocardial ring abscess, Subacute bacterial endocarditis
Chemical / poisoning	No underlying causes
Dermatologic	No underlying causes
Drug Side Effect	No underlying causes
Ear Nose Throat	Pharyngitis, Sinusitis, Bronchitis, Otitis media
Endocrine	No underlying causes
Environmental	No underlying causes
Gastroenterologic	Esophagitis, Gastritis, Pancreatitis, Small intestine disorder, Gastrointestinal bleeding, Abscess, Intestinal obstruction, Instrumentation
Genetic	No underlying causes
Hematologic	No underlying causes
Iatrogenic	No underlying causes
Infectious Disease	No underlying causes
Musculoskeletal / Ortho	Osteomyelitis, wound infections
Neurologic	Acute bacterial meningitis
Nutritional / Metabolic	No underlying causes
Obstetric/Gynecologic	No underlying causes
Oncologic	No underlying causes
Opthalmologic	No underlying causes
Overdose / Toxicity	No underlying causes
Psychiatric	No underlying causes
Pulmonary	Community-acquired pneumonia, Empyema, Lung abscess
Renal / Electrolyte	Pyelonephritis, Intranephric abscess or perinephric abscess, Renal calculi, Urinary tract obstruction, Acute prostatitis/abscess, Chronic kidney disease, Instrumentation, Urethritis, Cystitis, Cervicitis, Vaginitis, Catheter-associated bacteriuria
Rheum / Immune / Allergy	No underlying causes
Sexual	No underlying causes
Trauma	No underlying causes
Urologic	No underlying causes
Miscellaneous	No underlying causes

Causes in Alphabetical Order

• Anthrax
• Gangrene
• Gram negative bacteremia
• Lemierre syndrome
• Melioidosis
• Necrotizing enterocolitis
• Neisseria meningiditis
• Peritonitis
• Pseudomonas aeruginosa
• Vibrio vulnificus