What is Sepsis?

Sepsis, which was often called “blood poisoning,” is a life-threatening emergency that happens when your body’s response to an infection damages vital organs and, often, causes death. Learn more about the symptoms of sepsis, which kills 350,000 adults each year in the United States.

Faces of Sepsis™

Faces of Sepsis™ is a collection of sepsis experiences, as told by sepsis survivors, caregivers, and those who have lost a loved one. Click below to read their stories or submit your own.

Teresa Davis

Survivor

In October of 2016 I had a non cancerous ovarian mass removed. In doing so, my doctor clipped my bowel. (Sepsis and Perforated Bowel) I was sewn up, no drains and stayed in the hospital a week before they let me go home. Within two weeks of being home, I couldn’t eat, had no energy, was nauseous, and could not breath if I attempted to lie back. They had me come in right away for a CT. From that point I was given a sedation (during the CT), and sent to emergency surgery. The bowel had been leaking content into ... Read Full Story

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Promise Selepe

Survivor, Tribute

Blessing was only 6 months when she started being sick. She was irritated and crying nonstop. We went to a general practitioner and she said she was teething. We went home later that night. When I was changing her diaper, I noticed her right leg was swollen I thought it’s nothing serious. I thought it was swollen because of the measles vaccine she got. The following day I noticed she was getting worse so we decided to take her to the local clinic where they sent us to the local hospital. When we got the hospital, while waiting to the ... Read Full Story

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Austin Horsley

Survivor, Tribute, Survivor

I was driving home from work, and I got hit by an instant bad feeling. I thought I just had a cold of some sorts. I took NyQuil and tried to sleep it off. I woke up at 1 am and felt completely delusional. I was convulsing from my fever. I drove myself to the emergency room in a snow storm only to collapse in the waiting room. By the time I woke up, I was admitted into the hospital with a temperature of 106.2. My body had been fried by the fever. Luckily I went in when I did. ... Read Full Story

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Alexander Nguyen

Survivor, Tribute, Survivor, Survivor

Back in September of 2022 I started feeling sick which honestly just felt like flu-like symptoms. I didn’t think anything of it besides just being sick. I started just taking over the counter medication hoping it would stop. However, I know I got sepsis through bacteria from open wounds from my MMA gym I go to. (Sepsis and Bacterial Infections) I should’ve taken care of it sooner when my wounds wouldn’t heal correctly and my body temperature kept constantly changing. When I finally went to the hospital I was diagnosed with sepsis and was told that I had a very ... Read Full Story

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Thomas Neavill

Survivor, Tribute, Survivor, Survivor, Survivor

On April 7, 2022 I was admitted to the hospital with double pneumonia. (Sepsis and Pneumonia) I was there 10 days and over the next 7 months was admitted 5 more times. Meanwhile I was feeling weaker by the day. From December ‘22 to March ‘23 I lived in an altered state. My mental and physical condition was deteriorating. Finally, on March 25, 2023, I went to the emergency room where I was diagnosed with septic shock and Renal Failure. I spent 5 months in the hospital and 6 months recovering at home. I finally returned to work on February ... Read Full Story

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Upcoming Events

Sponsored Webinar: More Secrets of the CBC…Use the Diff to Make a Diff!

April 30, 2024 | 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Date: April 30, 2024 Time: 2:00 – 3:00 pm ET / 11:00 am – 12:00 pm PT Description:  In this follow-up to the 2023 webinar, sponsored by Beckman Coulter, take …

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Sepsis Alliance Connect Presentation: What Can Recreational Therapy Teach Us About Managing Symptoms Common to Sepsis Survivors and Their Loved Ones?

April 30, 2024 | 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Date: April 30, 2024 Time: 2 PM ET Description:  Recreational therapy is a type of therapy that uses leisure activities to support physical and mental/emotional healing in people with illnesses …

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Sepsis Alliance Symposium: Maternal and Neonatal Sepsis

May 16, 2024 | 9:00 am - 1:00 pm

Date: May 16, 2024 Time: 12 pm – 4 pm EST / 9 am – 1 pm PT Description:  This FREE, virtual event will cover critical topics related to maternal …

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Sepsis News

Pediatric Sepsis Week: April 21-27

April 21, 2024

April 21-27 is Pediatric Sepsis Week. Learn more about pediatric sepsis by clicking the link below.

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Sepsis Alliance Applauds Reintroduction of Lulu’s Law in Advance of Pediatric Sepsis Week

April 18, 2024

The bipartisan bill, named for a four-year-old who was lost to sepsis, will enable the U.S. to tackle a condition that takes the lives of nearly 20 children each day. …

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Black Maternal Health Week: April 11-17

April 11, 2024

April 11-17 is Black Maternal Health Week. Learn more about sepsis and maternal health by clicking the link below.

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