Medical Minute: Sepsis, The Silent Killer On The Rise In The U.S.

Sepsis, often called the "silent killer," is a life-threatening condition that can go unnoticed until it’s too late.

As September marks Sepsis Awareness Month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that at least 1.7 million adults in the U.S. develop sepsis annually, with nearly 270,000 deaths resulting from the condition.

Sepsis occurs when the body’s immune system, while fighting an infection, begins to damage normal tissues and organs, leading to widespread inflammation.

Firefighter Christopher Askew experienced this firsthand.

“I felt a little scratch in my throat after shift and I went home, and for the next two days I began to get a lot worse,” Askew said. His strep infection progressed to sepsis.

“I didn't think I was going to make it. I honestly felt like death,” he said.

Experts say the rise in sepsis cases is concerning. Overuse of antibiotics has contributed to the development of superbugs, while an aging population and increasing numbers of people with weakened immune systems or chronic diseases are also driving factors.

"People that are immunocompromised, that don't have an intact immune system, are at high risk of developing sepsis, and that's because they're at greater risk of getting an infection," said Dr. Middleton.

Healthcare providers are being trained to spot the signs of sepsis early and to use antibiotics judiciously to help prevent superbugs.

For Askew, the battle against sepsis was one he had to win. “I never want to give up my family. I got four boys, nine, seven, five, and four years old,” he said.

With the support of his family and friends, Askew has made a full recovery and is back at work.

Dr. Middleton recommends using the acronym "TIME" to recognize sepsis symptoms: 'T' for temperature, 'I' for infection, 'M' for mental decline, and 'E' for extremely ill.