Septic shock is a life-threatening condition that arises when a body-wide infection leads to dangerously low blood pressure and organ damage. It most commonly affects those with weakened immune systems, such as the elderly, very young, pregnant women, or individuals with medical conditions or recent surgery/hospitalization that compromise immunity. The hallmarks of septic shock are warm skin, rapid heart rate and breathing, low blood pressure, and reddish patches on the skin.

2. Also known as……
• Bacteremic shock
• Endotoxic shock
• Septicemic shock
• Warm Shock

3. Septic Shock is almost always a
complication of……
..a very serious illness (AIDS, Diabetes, leukemia)
that compromises the immune system.
..an injury
…surgery

4. Anyone
with weak
Immune
systems
The elderly……

5. Very young children…..

6. Pregnant
women…..

7. Recent surgery or
hospitalization

8. Catheters

9. Septic Shock is a
combination of
two sides of the
Perfusion Triangle

11. S A M P L E Medical History
•Signs/Symptoms
• Warm skin
• Tachycardic
• Hypotensive
• Shallow, rapid breathing
• Reddish patches on the skin

12. S A M P L E Medical History
•Medications
• Steroids
• Long term antibiotics
• Catheters (long term use)
• Chemotherapy

13. S A M P L E Medical History
•Past medical history
• Surgery/Recent hospitalization
• AIDS/Lymphoma/Leukemia
• Severe infections

14. QUESTIONS?