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.

Vuyo Ndlovu

Survivor

I’m a 40 year old female nurse with 17 years post experience after 4-year nursing course training. My story begins as follows. It was on the 11.01.2022 and I was pregnant approaching end of my 2nd trimester, this was the most precious moment in our life. We were in love since 2002 and this was our second pregnancy, in 2019 I had miscarriage. I woke up feeling okay, but in the morning hours, I started having uncontrolled shivering and my colleagues forced me to visit our occupation health clinic. I agreed and after consultation I went to sleep and rest ... Read Full Story

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Charla Martinez

Survivor, Survivor

I’m 23 years old and I am a postpartum sepsis survivor. (Sepsis and Pregnancy & Childbirth) I was a first time mom and had a healthy pregnancy throughout, although I did find out mid pregnancy that I had strep B. (Sepsis and Group B Streptococcus) My former OBGYN let me know some women just have it in their body and it could be treated with antibiotics so I didn’t think much of it. I ended up switching providers and they never really followed up with it. Right before going in to get my c-section, I got tested for COVID, to ... Read Full Story

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Dina M.

Survivor, Survivor, Survivor

2019 has been overwhelming. My body was telling me something was wrong. I went to the doctor and expressed my concern that I was experiencing symptoms of a UTI. My doctor ordered labs, but I never received a call nor was anything prescribed to me. My white blood count was a little high but my other cultures came back negative, and that’s where it ended. So I thought. (Sepsis and Urinary Tract Infections) A few weeks later, I started having back pain. I didn’t think much of it since I’m always on the go and I had been very busy ... Read Full Story

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Michael Lathon

Survivor, Survivor, Survivor, Survivor

I started having continuous UTIs in the last week of January 2022. (Sepsis and Urinary Tract Infections) After every hospital stay I would get another one in about 7 days. After multiple trips to the hospital I developed sepsis and Covid but no one could figure out why. I was then placed on a super drug that killed the infection but also killed my good bacteria. I was then sent home with a PICC line in my arm to do my own IV for another month of treatment. After that I developed the septic rash and a huge posterior neck ... Read Full Story

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Tammi Davis

Survivor, Survivor, Survivor, Survivor, Survivor

My mother entered the ER in March of 2017 for lower back and chills. Once she got there things changed quickly. She developed a fever and could no longer produce urine and was in incredible pain . She was diagnosed with kidney stones and the doctors suggested for her to go home and to just try pass the stones on her own. (Sepsis and Kidney Stones) My mom felt something was not right and insisted on staying at least over night for observation. The doctor agreed. When my mother got admitted onto the hospital floor, things took a turn for the ... 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

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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World Health Day

April 7, 2024

April 7 is World Health Day. Click the link below to learn more about Sepsis Alliance’s priority areas and how we’re committed to improving sepsis outcomes for all.

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