Sepsis has affected about 178,633 people in Brazil over the past 20 years, according to data from the Latin American Sepsis Institute.
Figures released by the organization show that approximately 4,096 deaths were recorded in 2025 alone due to sepsis and septic shock. The findings come ahead of World Sepsis Day on Sunday, Sept. 13, an annual health campaign focused on raising global awareness about prevention, early diagnosis, and proper medical treatment.
The Latin American Sepsis Institute, known as ILAS, tracks epidemiological data and works with healthcare institutions across the region to improve clinical protocols for severe infections. Sepsis, also commonly referred to as septicemia or generalized infection, represents a major public health challenge and one of the leading causes of hospital mortality worldwide.
Understanding sepsis and septic shock
Sepsis is a severe medical condition triggered when the immune system produces an exaggerated inflammatory response to a viral or bacterial infection. Instead of targeting only the invading pathogens, the body's defensive response damages its own tissues and organs, leading to widespread inflammation and organ failure.
In cases of severe sepsis, the condition damages one or more organ systems throughout the body. Patients frequently experience impaired kidney function, cardiac dysfunction, and respiratory distress.
The most advanced stage of the condition is septic shock, popularly known as generalized infection. During septic shock, a patient's blood pressure drops to dangerously low levels and cannot be restored even with standard fluid administration or basic medications, creating severe circulatory failure that can prove fatal.
Causes and symptom recognition
Health officials note that sepsis is frequently caused by bacterial infections acquired in hospital settings. These infections most commonly originate in the lungs, the abdominal cavity, or the urinary tract before spreading throughout the system.
Recognizing the warning signs early is critical for survival. Symptoms of sepsis include fever, hypothermia, chills, dizziness, vomiting, extreme weakness, tachycardia, shortness of breath, and a sharp drop in blood pressure. Patients may also display mental confusion, excessive drowsiness, agitation, and anxiety, alongside decreased heart function, reduced kidney output, lowered platelet counts, and changes in blood clotting.
Because many early symptoms resemble common viral illnesses, medical specialists emphasize that sudden changes in body temperature, heart rate, or mental clarity in someone with a known infection require urgent medical evaluation.
Diagnosis and emergency treatment
Patients exhibiting potential symptoms are advised to seek immediate evaluation from an infectious disease specialist. In hospital settings, these specialists lead patient treatment and direct diagnostic testing. Physicians conduct routine laboratory tests alongside blood collection, urine analysis, and sample testing of any visible bodily secretions to identify the underlying infection.
The initial hours of medical intervention are the most critical for patient recovery. Medical teams immediately initiate intravenous antibiotics to combat the infection and correct blood flow disturbances. When standard medications prove insufficient to maintain adequate blood pressure and organ perfusion, physicians administer powerful vasopressors such as noradrenaline. Patients who require this advanced level of cardiovascular support must be treated in intensive care units, where vital signs can be continuously monitored.
