Treatment:

Septic shock is a medical emergency. Patients are usually admitted to the intensive care unit of the hospital.

Treatment may include:

• Breathing machine (mechanical ventilation)
• Drugs to treat low blood pressure, infection, or blood clotting
• Fluids given directly into a vein (intravenously)
• Oxygen
• Surgery

There are new drugs that act against the extreme inflammatory response seen in septic shock. These may help limit organ damage.

Hemodynamic monitoring -- the evaluation of the pressures in the heart and lungs -- may be required. This can only be done with special equipment and intensive care nursing.

Expectations (prognosis):

Septic shock has a high death rate. The death rate depends on the cause of the infection, how many organs have failed, and how quickly and aggressively medical therapy is started.

Complications:

Respiratory failure, cardiac failure, or any other organ failure can occur.

Calling your health care provider:

Go directly to an emergency department if you develop symptoms of septic shock.