critical care medicine
Sepsis and Septic Shock
Etiology of Sepsis and Septic Shock
 or other fungi. A postoperative infection should be suspected as the cause of septic shock in patients who have recently had surgery. A unique, uncommon form of shock caused by staphylococcal and streptococcal toxins is called Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS) . Septic shock occurs more often in neonates (see Neonatal Sepsis ), older people, and pregnant women. Predisposing factors include Diabetes Mellitus (DM) None Cirrhosis None Leukopenia (especially that associated with cancer or treatment with cytotoxic medications) Invasive devices (including endotracheal tubes, vascular or urinary catheters, drainage tubes, and other foreign materials) Prior treatment with antibiotics or corticosteroids Recent hospitalization (especially in an intensive care unit) Common causative sites of infection include the lungs and the urinary, biliary, and gastrointestinal tracts. 