Sepsis is the body's extreme response to an infection. Sepsis can rapidly cause tissue damage, organ failure and death without timely treatment. Sepsis is a medical emergency. Time matters.
Sepsis happens when an existing infection in your skin, lungs, urinary tract, gut or somewhere else spreads and triggers a chain reaction through your body. Sepsis is most commonly caused by Staphylococcus aureus (staph), Escherichia coli (E. coli), and some types of Streptococcus.