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

She's undergone dozens of surgeries and survived multiple septic shock infections. —Zoey Lyttle, Peoplemag, 10 May 2024

Symptoms of Too Much Vitamin D and Supplement Side Effects How Risky Are IV Vitamin Drips? In 2021, a 50-year-old woman was hospitalized for septic shock with multi-organ failure after receiving an IV vitamin drip in her home. —Stephanie Brown, Verywell Health, 1 May 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