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Sepsis is a life-threatening condition caused by the immune response of an organism to severe infection. (In contrast, septicemia denotes the presence of bacteria in the bloodstream.) Sepsis is characterized by overwhelming systemic inflammation and is often associated with coagulation disorders and dysfunction of the circulatory system. Even under optimal treatment, organ dysfunction may progress to multiple organ failure and eventually death.
Sepsis is particulary common and dangerous in elderly, immunocompromised, and critically ill patients, where it is a major cause of death in intensive care units worldwide. In the United States, sepsis is the leading cause of death in non-coronary ICU patients, while recent 1998 data from the Centers for Disease Control show that it is the 11th leading cause of death overall. Sepsis has been associated with mortality rates ranging from 28% to 50%.