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Pathologic Difference between Sepsis and Bloodstream Infections.

Luis E Huerta¹, Todd W Rice²

¹Department of Medicine, Division of Allergy, Pulmonary, and Critical Care Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN. luis.e.huerta@vumc.org.

The Journal of Applied Laboratory Medicine

|October 23, 2019

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Sepsis is life-threatening organ failure from infection. Distinguishing sepsis from bloodstream infections relies on identifying organ dysfunction, not just infection presence. Early recognition guides treatment.

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Area of Science:

Infectious Diseases
Critical Care Medicine
Pathophysiology

Background:

Sepsis is a critical condition characterized by life-threatening organ dysfunction due to a dysregulated host response to infection.
It is a leading cause of mortality and morbidity in hospitalized patients, necessitating clear diagnostic criteria.
Differentiating sepsis from simple bloodstream infections is crucial for timely and effective clinical management.

Purpose of the Study:

To define sepsis and bloodstream infections, emphasizing recent updates to the sepsis definition.
To elucidate the molecular and cellular pathways integral to sepsis pathogenesis.
To review laboratory tests and biomarkers evaluated for sepsis diagnosis.

Main Methods:

Literature review focusing on definitions, pathogenesis, and diagnostic markers of sepsis.
Analysis of molecular and cellular pathways including cytokines, coagulation, apoptosis, and mitochondrial dysfunction.
Discussion of laboratory tests such as C-reactive protein, procalcitonin, and lactic acid.

Main Results:

Sepsis is characterized by infection plus organ dysfunction resulting from a dysregulated host response.
Key pathways in sepsis progression include inflammatory cytokines, coagulation cascade, apoptosis, and mitochondrial dysfunction.
While biomarkers exist, organ dysfunction remains the primary differentiator between sepsis and other infections.

Conclusions:

The presence of organ dysfunction is the defining feature that distinguishes sepsis from other infections.
Understanding the complex molecular and cellular pathways is key to comprehending sepsis pathogenesis.
Current laboratory tests aid in diagnosis but do not replace clinical assessment of organ dysfunction.