Sepsis is a dangerous illness that happens when the body is forced to fight a severe infection that is spread through the bloodstream. The chemicals the body releases into the blood to fight the infection cause inflammation throughout the body. Severe cases of sepsis can cause septic shock, which can be fatal.
There are more than 1.5 million cases of sepsis each year (per the CDC). Sepsis kills more than 250,000 people each year.