septic shock

noun

: a severe form of sepsis that is associated with profound, life-threatening circulatory, cellular, and metabolic abnormalities, that is marked especially by increased capillary permeability and vasodilation resulting in persistent, dangerously low blood pressure and reduced blood flow despite fluid administration, and that leads to multiple organ failure

By many estimates, sepsis—and its most severe form, septic shock—is the leading cause of death for intensive care patients in the U.S. and the 10th most common cause of death for everyone else in the country.

—Maryn McKenna

Examples of septic shock in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The actress, 33, and Forman, 30, have been together for more than two years now, but only went public with their love earlier this year, weeks after Park was hospitalized with tonsillitis that spiraled into critical septic shock. —Julia Moore, Peoplemag, 6 Aug. 2024

Both sepsis and septic shock require immediate treatment. —Dan Heching, CNN, 3 Sep. 2024

In Arkansas, a woman went into septic shock and her fetus died after an emergency room sent her home. —Amanda Seitz, Los Angeles Times, 12 Aug. 2024

My family had already become destabilized the previous August when my mother came close to death from septic shock brought on by a urinary tract infection. —Lisa P. Rimland, Hartford Courant, 22 Jan. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1906, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

septic shock

noun

: a severe form of sepsis that is associated with profound, life-threatening circulatory, cellular, and metabolic abnormalities, is marked especially by increased capillary permeability and vasodilation resulting in persistent, dangerously low blood and reduced blood flow pressure despite fluid administration, and that leads to multiple organ failure