MedicineNet.com
About Us | Privacy Policy | Site Map
November 20, 2009
MedicineNet home Picture Slideshows Diseases and conditions Symptoms and signs Procedures and tests Medications Health and Living Picture Image Collection MedTerms medical dictionary
home > sepsis definition
Font Size
A
A
A


A Good place to start
Our Sepsis Main Article provides a comprehensive look at the who, what, when and how of Sepsis

Definition of Sepsis

Sepsis: Commonly called a "blood stream infection." The presence of bacteria (bacteremia) or other infectious organisms or their toxins in the blood (septicemia) or in other tissue of the body. Sepsis may be associated with clinical symptoms of systemic (bodywide) illness, such as fever, chills, malaise (generally feeling "rotten"), low blood pressure, and mental status changes. Sepsis can be a serious situation, a life threatening disease calling for urgent and comprehensive care.

Treatment depends on the type of infection, but usually begins with antibiotics or similar medications.

Also known as blood poisoning, septicemia.


Last Editorial Review: 7/11/2001

Search All of MedicineNet For:
  





Printer-Friendly Format  |  Email to a Friend

Suggested Reading by Our Doctors
MedicineNet Doctors
  • vancomycin-oral, Vancocin - Consumer information about the medication VANCOMYCIN - ORAL (Vancocin), includes side effects, drug interactions, recommended dosages, and storage information. Read more about the prescription drug VANCOMYCIN - ORAL.
  • Dialysis - Dialysis is a procedure that performs many of the normal duties of the kidneys, like filtering waste products from the blood, when the kidneys no longer work adequately. There are two types of dialysis: hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis.
  • Urinary Tract Infection (UTI In Adults) - Learn about urinary tract infection causes, symptoms, signs, diagnosis and treatment of UTIs in men and women. Antibiotics may be used to treat recurrent bladder infections.
Read more Sepsis related articles »

Latest Medical News


Back to MedTerms online medical dictionary A-Z List

Privacy Policy

Women's Health

Find out what women really need.

Are you Depressed? Take the Quiz

Your Guide to Symptoms & Signs: Pinpoint Your Pain


From WebMD

Featured Centers
Health Solutions From Our Sponsors


Definition of Sepsis Related Articles


MedicineNet Authored

Webster's New World
Medical Dictionary
Learn more »

Webster's New World Medical Dictionary

MedTerms Medical Word
of the Day XML






Health categories:

Slideshows | Diseases & Conditions | Symptoms & Signs | Procedures & Tests | Medications | Health & Living | News & Views | Medical Dictionary

Popular health centers:

Allergies | Arthritis | Cancer | Diabetes | Digestion | Healthy Kids | Heart | Men's Health | Mental Health | Women's Health | More...

Publications:

ePublications (PDFs) | XML News via RSS | Audio Podcasts | Email Newsletters

MedicineNet.com:

About Us | Privacy Policy | Site Map | WebMD® | Medscape® | eMedicine® | eMedicineHealth® | RxList®

This website is certified by Health On the Net Foundation. Click to verify. This site complies to the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information:
verify here.

©1996-2009 MedicineNet, Inc. All rights reserved. Notices and Legal Disclaimer.
MedicineNet does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. See additional information.