What is Sepsis?

Sepsis is the body’s overwhelming and life-threatening response to infection which can lead to tissue damage, organ failure, and 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.

Charla Martinez

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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M. Lee Fleming

Survivor, Survivor

Hi, My name is Lee and I’m a dog attack victim and a sepsis and septic shock survivor. I’m also a “DIC” and dry gangrene survivor. I have trouble comprehending why I am so blessed! (Sepsis and Animal Bites, Sepsis and Septic Shock, Sepsis and Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC) My story began on Christmas Day, 2021 on a normal, daily walk with my wife and my two dogs through our neighborhood park. It was a beautiful, exceptionally warm Christmas in North Carolina when we left the house around 4:00pm. We strolled down through the park toward the water and as ... Read Full Story

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Maitreyi Kruthiventy

Survivor, Survivor, Survivor

In 2018 towards the end of April I had developed severe pain in my left abdomen ranging from back to front. It was so severe but the doctor ruled it out as urine infection. Even after using medicines the pain wouldn’t go away. After ten days of pure suffering, they found that a large chocolate cyst has filled my left ovary and both of them had to be removed. After the surgery my pain went away but extreme weakness started with no urine output. I was shifted to super speciality hospital which diagnosed septic shock and my kidneys had shut ... Read Full Story

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Kayla Ferrer

Survivor, Survivor, Survivor, Survivor

Kayla was admitted for hip pain then became septic due to osteomyelitis of the hip, which was also MRSA. Due to her asthma she got pneumonia. (Sepsis and MRSA, Sepsis and Pneumonia) Kayla was intubated two days after being admitted. Went into surgery to remove the infection but unfortunately her heart was failing she received two rounds of chest compressions and was placed on ECMO. Kayla was not getting any better her left lung was completely collapsed after a bronchoscopy that an RT recommended. From one day to another she showed so much improvement. After 7 days on ECMO she ... Read Full Story

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Robert Helton

Survivor, Survivor, Survivor, Survivor, Survivor

In February 2021 I received care from a neighborhood physician’s assistant for a hangnail that had become infected. After having the infection drained, I was prescribed an antibiotic. Two weeks later I became ill with severe diarrhea and returned to the same office. (Sepsis and Bacterial Infections) I was prescribed Cipro and Flagyl for potential diverticulitis and my symptoms subsided. Another two weeks passed and again, I was sick again with the same symptoms and visited my primary care physician and was again prescribed Cipro and Flagyl and the physician’s assistant also ordered a CT scan that later revealed irritation ... Read Full Story

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Upcoming Events

Sponsored Webinar: Severity Stratification of Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients Using SeptiCyte RAPID

January 12, 2023 | 2:00 pm - 2:30 pm

Date: January 12, 2023 Time: 2:00 – 2:30 pm ET / 11:00 – 11:30 am PT Description:  In this sponsored session, learners will review the importance of and challenges associated with triaging …

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Sepsis Alliance AMR Conference

April 26, 2023 | 10:30 am - 4:30 pm

Event Description: Sepsis and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) are closely and challengingly linked. Broad-spectrum antimicrobials are often the first line of defense in treating patients with sepsis, but limiting unnecessary antimicrobial …

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Sepsis News

3 Sepsis Heroes Share What They Have Been Up To

December 6, 2022

  Do you ever wonder what award winners do once the ceremony is over? When it comes to Sepsis Heroes, it seems the award encouraged them to do even more. …

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6 Simple Things You Can Do to Help People With Disabilities

December 3, 2022

On this International Day of Persons with Disabilities, December 3, Sepsis Alliance honors sepsis survivors who have long-lasting disabilities that affect how they function every day. “Life can change in …

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Why Won’t My Doctor Give Me Antibiotics?

November 18, 2022

“Doctor, I’ve been feeling really sick with a horrible cold for the past few days. I need some antibiotics.” Have you or someone you know ever said that? And has …

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