There is no definitive diagnostic test for sepsis. Along with clinical data, laboratory testing can provide clues that indicate the presence of or risk of developing sepsis. Serum lactate measurement may help to determine the severity of sepsis and is used to monitor therapeutic response.
Some of the different tests that are needed to make a sepsis diagnosis include a urine test, blood test, and tests related to other medical conditions.
Laboratory Tests
FBC (Full blood count) – to evaluate red and white blood cells and platelets. Lactate – increased levels can indicate organ dysfunction. Blood gases – to evaluate oxygen in the blood and acid-base balance. C-reactive protein (CRP) – to detect inflammation in the body.
A single diagnostic test for sepsis does not yet exist, and so doctors and healthcare professionals use a combination of tests and immediate and worrisome clinical signs, which include the following: The presence of an infection. Very low blood pressure and high heart rate. Increased breathing rate.
Sepsis can develop quickly from initial infection and progress to septic shock in as little as 12 to 24 hours. 1 You may have an infection that's not improving or you could even be sick without realizing it.
Bacterial infections cause most cases of sepsis. Sepsis can also be a result of other infections, including viral infections, such as COVID-19 or influenza, or fungal infections.
Most people make a full recovery from sepsis. But it can take time. You might continue to have physical and emotional symptoms. These can last for months, or even years, after you had sepsis.
Healthcare professionals should treat sepsis with antibiotics as soon as possible. Antibiotics are critical tools for treating life-threatening infections, like those that can lead to sepsis. However, as antibiotic resistance grows, infections are becoming more difficult to treat.
Antibiotics: You'll receive antibiotics if you have a bacterial infection. IV (intravenous) fluids: You'll need fluids to maintain blood flow to your organs and prevent your blood pressure from dropping too low. Vasopressor medications: Vasopressors tighten blood vessels.
PCT and CRP are both proteins produced in response to infection and/or inflammation. They are probably the two most widely used clinical tests to diagnose and manage patients with sepsis, with the exception of lactate. CRP is a well-established biomarker of infection and inflammation29.
A Molecular Diagnostics (MDx)-based microbial test can provide actionable diagnosis of a BSI, as well as any associated Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) genes in a few hours. This can cut the time for appropriate chemotherapy for secondary infections and increase the odds of patient survivability.
Sepsis is not something you can treat at home. Go to the hospital or call 911 if you have symptoms. Sepsis is a rare complication of an infection and occurs when an extreme immune system response triggers widespread inflammation throughout the body.
Stage one: Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (SIRS)
Sepsis can be hard to identify, but is typically denoted by a very high or low body temperature, high heart rate, high respiratory rate, high or low white blood cell count and a known or suspected infection.
What causes sepsis? Most sepsis is caused by bacterial infections, but it can also be caused by viral infections, such as COVID-19 or influenza; fungal infections; or noninfectious insults, such as traumatic injury.
The condition can arise suddenly and progress quickly, and it's often hard to recognize. Sepsis was once commonly known as “blood poisoning.” It was almost always deadly. Today, even with early treatment, sepsis kills about 1 in 5 affected people.
As sepsis worsens or septic shock develops, an early sign, particularly in older people or the very young, may be confusion or decreased alertness. Blood pressure decreases, yet the skin is paradoxically warm. Later, extremities become cool and pale, with peripheral cyanosis and mottling.
NICE - the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence - urges hospital staff to treat people with life-threatening sepsis within one hour, in its quality standard. In clinical practice, this is often referred to as the 'golden hour' after diagnosis.
It's clear that sepsis doesn't occur without an infection in your body, but it is possible that someone develops sepsis without realizing they had an infection in the first place. And sometimes, doctors never discover what the initial infection was.
However, there might be other symptoms related to sepsis based on where the infection is. Abdominal pain is one such symptom.
Sepsis is known as the 'silent killer' because its symptoms often mimic that of other illnesses such as the flu or gastro. But, if it is identified and treated early, patients can recover.
Organ failure, including kidney failure, is a hallmark of sepsis. As the body is overwhelmed, its organs begin to shut down, causing even more problems. The kidneys are often among the first to be affected.