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Tests and diagnosis
By Mayo Clinic staffDiagnosing sepsis can be difficult because its signs and symptoms can be caused by other disorders. Doctors often order a battery of tests to try to pinpoint the underlying infection.
Blood tests
A sample of your blood can be tested for:
- Evidence of infection
- Clotting problems
- Abnormal liver or kidney function
- Impaired oxygen availability
- Electrolyte imbalances
Other laboratory tests
Depending on your symptoms, your doctor may also want to run tests on one or more of the following bodily fluids:
- Urine. If your doctor suspects that you have a urinary tract infection, he or she may want your urine checked for signs of bacteria.
- Wound secretions. If you have an open wound that appears infected, testing a sample of the wound's secretions can help show what type of antibiotic might work best.
- Cerebrospinal fluid. A spinal tap (lumbar puncture) involves inserting a needle between the bones of your spine, to draw off a sample of the fluid that bathes and cushions your brain and spinal cord. This fluid can be checked for infections, such as meningitis.
Imaging scans
If you have no obvious infection, your doctor may order imaging tests to try to find a source of infection.
- X-ray. Using low levels of radiation, X-rays are a good tool to visualize problems in the lungs. X-rays are painless and take only a few minutes to complete.
- Computerized tomography (CT). Infections in the appendix, pancreas or bowels are easier to see on CT scans. This technology takes X-rays from a variety of angles and combines them to depict cross-sectional slices of your body's internal structures. The test is painless and usually takes less than 20 minutes.
- Ultrasound. This technology uses sound waves to produce real-time images on a video monitor. Ultrasound may be particularly useful to check for infections in your gallbladder or ovaries.
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). MRIs may be helpful in identifying soft tissue infections, such as abscesses within the spine. This technology uses radio waves and a strong magnet to produce cross-sectional images of your internal structures.
- Neviere R. Sepsis and the systemic inflammatory response syndrome: Definitions, epidemiology and prognosis. http://uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed April 27, 2009.
- Shapiro NI, et al. Sepsis syndromes. In: Marx JA, et al. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 6th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby Elsevier; 2006. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/133981928-3/0/1365/424.html#4-u1.0-B0-323-02845-4..50141-4--cesec18_7402. Accessed April 27, 2009.
- Enrione MA, et al. Sepsis, septic shock and systemic inflammatory response syndrome. In: Kliegman RM, et al. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 18th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/133981928-3/0/1608/514.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-2450-7..50178-X--cesec6_4006. Accessed April 27, 2009.
- Neviere R. Pathophysiology of sepsis. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed April 27, 2009.
- Rivers EP, et al. Improving outcomes for severe sepsis and septic shock: Tools for Early identification of at-risk patients and treatment protocol implementation. Critical Care Clinics. 2008;23:S1.
- Chest X-ray. Radiological Society of North America. http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?PG=chestrad. Accessed April 29, 2009.
- CT: Body. Radiological Society of North America. http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=bodyct. Accessed April 29, 2009.
- Abdominal ultrasound. Radiological Society of North America. http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?PG=abdominus. Accessed April 29, 2009.
- MRI of the spine. Radiological Society of North America. http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?PG=spinemr. Accessed April 29, 2009.
- Schmidt GA, et al. Management of severe sepsis and septic shock in adults. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed April 29, 2009.
