Sepsis is the body’s extreme response to an infection. Sepsis happens when an infection you already have – in your skin, lungs, urinary tract, or somewhere else – triggers a chain reaction throughout your body. It is life-threatening, and without timely treatment, sepsis can rapidly lead to tissue damage, organ failure, and death. While most sepsis is caused by bacterial infections, it can be a complication of other infections, including viral infections, such as COVID-19 or influenza. Even though sepsis is a complication of an infection that can be contagious, sepsis is not itself contagious.
A person’s immune system usually works to prevent infection by fighting “invaders” like bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites. If an infection does occur, the immune system will try to fight it, often with the help of medication such as antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals, and antiparasitics. However, for rea...