What is Sepsis?

Sepsis, which was often called “blood poisoning,” is a life-threatening emergency that happens when your body’s response to an infection damages vital organs and, often, causes death. Learn more about the symptoms of sepsis, which kills 350,000 adults each year in the United States.

Faces of Sepsis™

Faces of Sepsis™ is a collection of sepsis experiences, as told by sepsis survivors, caregivers, and those who have lost a loved one. Click below to read their stories or submit your own.

Michael Lathon

Survivor

I started having continuous UTIs in the last week of January 2022. (Sepsis and Urinary Tract Infections) After every hospital stay I would get another one in about 7 days. After multiple trips to the hospital I developed sepsis and Covid but no one could figure out why. I was then placed on a super drug that killed the infection but also killed my good bacteria. I was then sent home with a PICC line in my arm to do my own IV for another month of treatment. After that I developed the septic rash and a huge posterior neck ... Read Full Story

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Warren Camp

Survivor, Survivor

I went to the hospital with severe back issues, to get a cortisone injection on a Thursday night. They ran tests Friday & scheduled injection for Monday. Saturday, a nurse was replacing an IV. While putting in the IV, she stuck me with the catheter, then pulled it out, sit it down, then stuck me with the same catheter again, digging around (I knew it was wrong but the pain from the back I was in and speed this happened just let it go ). An hour later I noticed the swelling and shut off IV and called the nurse ... Read Full Story

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Matthew Sucese

Survivor, Survivor, Survivor

About a couple weeks ago (currently the 17th of July) I was sent to the ER to find out I had a 8MM kidney stone, after blood work they had taken a different tone. I wasn’t aware I had sepsis until the second day in the hospital, they wanted to keep me calm until I had my surgeries. (Sepsis and Kidney Stones) My nurses and doctors were fantastic I am incredibly thankful they were so attentive and so kind when I was at my worst. I was told that if I waited a day it would have been fatal, I ... Read Full Story

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Tammi Davis

Survivor, Survivor, Survivor, Survivor

My mother entered the ER in March of 2017 for lower back and chills. Once she got there things changed quickly. She developed a fever and could no longer produce urine and was in incredible pain . She was diagnosed with kidney stones and the doctors suggested for her to go home and to just try pass the stones on her own. (Sepsis and Kidney Stones) My mom felt something was not right and insisted on staying at least over night for observation. The doctor agreed. When my mother got admitted onto the hospital floor, things took a turn for the ... Read Full Story

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Savon Khiev

Survivor, Survivor, Survivor, Survivor, Survivor

04/26/2022, my husband (38 years old) had acute ruptured appendicitis that led to severe sepsis. (Sepsis and Appendicitis) Luckily, we made it to the hospital in time after he returned back to Houston from Austin. It led to acidosis, collapsed lung, pericardial effusion, and he had a heart attack. He was in the hospital for about a week, but now we are told he may have an abscess because there’s a mass in his right abdomen. He had an exercise stress test and failed it, so he will be doing a nuclear stress test in a few days to see ... Read Full Story

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Upcoming Events

Sepsis Alliance Connect: New Platform Tour

April 2, 2024 | 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Date: April 2, 2024 Time: 2 PM ET Description:  Whether you’re excited to see what new features are available in Sepsis Alliance Connect or you’re a bit worried about any …

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Sepsis Alliance AMR Conference

April 10, 2024 | 10:30 am - 5:00 pm

Date: April 10-11, 2024 Time: 10:30 am – 4:50 pm ET / 7:30 am – 1:50 pm PT Description:  Designed to explore cutting-edge solutions for antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in healthcare, …

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Sepsis Alliance Voices Advocacy Training: Storytelling for Advocates

April 18, 2024 | 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Date: Thursday, April 18th, 2024 Time: 2 pm ET – 3 pm ET / 11 am PT – 12 pm PT  Description:  Do you have a personal experience with sepsis – …

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Sepsis News

Sepsis Alliance Receives Competitive Engagement Award from PCORI to Further Patient Engagement and Sepsis Work

March 26, 2024

Sepsis Alliance has been approved for a Eugene Washington PCORI Engagement Award from the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI), an independent, non-profit research organization created to help patients and those …

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World Oral Health Day

March 20, 2024

March 20 is World Oral Health Day. Learn about sepsis and oral health by clicking the link below.

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World Kidney Day

March 14, 2024

March 14 is World Kidney Day. Learn more about sepsis and kidney health by clicking the link below.

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