According to SEP-3, a patient progresses to septic shock from sepsis if the hypotension due to the systemic infection:
- does not respond to fluid resuscitation or vasopressors, and
- lactate results are greater than or equal to 2 mmol/L.
General symptoms of septic shock include:
- Low blood pressure
- Chills
- Difficulty breathing
- Confusion
- Dizziness
Organ failure complications follow.
Septic shock is life-threatening with a mortality rate in excess of 40%.
