sepsi-, sep-, septi-, septico-, septo-, -sepsis, -septic, -septicemia, -septicemic

(Greek: decay, rot, putrefactive)

fulgio septica (s) (noun), fulgio septicae (pl)
A species of slime mold: Some people refer to fugio septica as "dog-vomit slime" or "scrambled egg slime" because it has a yellowish, bile-colored appearance.
hematosepsis, haematosepsis (s) (noun); hematosepses, haematosepses (pl)
Systemic malady associated with the presence and persistence of pathogenic microbes or their toxins in the blood: Brad was hospitalized with haematosepsis and he was placed in isolation because of the risk of being infected by other patients.
hemosepsis (s) (noun), hemosepses (pl)
A bacterial disorder in the bloodstream: Dr. Jonas informed Paul that he was suffering from hemosepsis in his blood and so he would be referred to a hematologist for further diagnosis.
kolyseptic (adjective), more kolyseptic, most kolyseptic
A reference to the hindrance of decay, rot, or putrefactive conditions: The cold weather acted as a kolyseptic condition which preserved the specimen for later study.
pneumosepticemia (s) (noun), pneumosepticemias (pl)
A serious illness of the lungs resulting from an infection that is associated with blood poisoning: Because of Pamela's severe pneumosepticemia, she was taken to the intensive-care unit where she was given oxygen therapy and artificial ventilation by using a life-support device which made it possible for her to breathe.
pneumosepticemic (adjective), more pneumosepticemic, most pneumosepticemic
Descriptive of or related to a critical respiratory illness associated with blood toxemia: Dr. Anderson was concerned that Patrick’s lung ailment was in a serious pneumosepticemic condition which needed immediate attention.
puerperal sepsis (s) (noun), puerperal sepses (pl)
Blood poisoning following childbirth, caused by infection of the placental site: Marion’s discharge from hospital was delayed because of puerperal sepsis which developed after the birth of her baby.
pyrosepticemia (s) (noun), pyrosepticemias (pl)
Fever associated with an impurity in the blood: Olive’s raging pyrosepticemia was brought under control with a combination of medications and cool bathing.
sepsis (s) (noun), sepses (pl)
1. The presence of pathogenic organisms or their toxins in the blood or tissues: Sepsis can lead to a life-threatening condition called "septic shock".
2. The poisoned condition resulting from the presence of pathogens or their poisonous conditions; putrefaction, putrescence: Air, together with a moderate amount of warmth and moisture, is necessary for the existence of sepsis.

During the process of sepses, various gases and vapors are evolved, and the lower forms of animal and vegetable life grow and multiply in the putrefying substance. The active causes of putrefaction, or sepsis, depend on the growth and activity of microorganisms.

The changes that take place in a wound when organisms gain entrance to it and flourish on its discharges are collectively known as sepses or "septic processes".

—Compiled from information located in
Black's Medical Dictionary; 35th edition;
Barnes & Noble Books, New Jersey; 1987; page 608.

Even the most beneficial bacteria can cause serious illness if they wind up where they are not supposed to be; for example, in the blood (causing sepsis) or in the web of tissue between the abdominal organs (causing peritonitis).

—Compiled from "The Ultimate Social Network" by Jennifer Ackermam;
Scientific American; June, 2012; page 23.

Sepsis is a serious and often deadly illness, yet it remains an unfamiliar threat to most of the general public, as well as one of the most difficult diseases for doctors to diagnose and treat.

The condition, which begins with an aggressive immune system reaction to an infection, kills 18 million people around the world every year, including around 260,000 in the U.S. 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.

Only one in five Americans recognizes the term, according to a 2011 study commissioned by the nonprofit group "Sepsis Alliance", and of those survey participants who had heard of sepsis, most could not define it.

Even physicians, who learn about sepsis in medical school, often miss the early signs of sepses because they mimic other disorders and because the illness progresses so rapidly from what looks like a mild infection to a life-threatening situation.

As a result of these difficulties, doctors are often too late to start the necessary interventions; such as, antibiotics to obliterate the infection, drugs to counteract a perilous drop in blood pressure, and a mechanical ventilator to raise dangerously low oxygen levels.

—Compiled from "Shock to the System" by Maryn McKenna;
Scientific American; April, 2013; page 16.
septic (s) (noun), septics (pl)
Something that causes decomposition or rot: Certain bacteria act as septics on human wastes.
septic (adjective), more septic, most septic
1. Descriptive of a condition or disease caused by the absorption of the products of putrescence or a substance that promotes putrescence: Gangrene is considered to be a very dangerous septic disease.
2. Produced by decay or morbid germs: The medical investigation determine that the condition of the patient's septic poisoning was possibly caused by the use of a non-sterilized surgical instrument during his operation.
3. Heavily polluted; a reference to a habitat or zone of fresh water rich in decomposing organic matter, high in carbon dioxide and very low in dissolved oxygen: The pond on the farm seemed to be very septic because of poor drainage.
septic shock (s) (noun), septic shocks (pl)
A serious, abnormal condition that occurs when an overwhelming bacterial contamination leads to low blood pressure and low blood flow: Vital organs, such as the brain, heart, kidneys, and liver may not function properly or may fail during a septic shock.

Toxins or poisons that are released by a bacteria, or fungus, may cause direct tissue damage to the body and can lead to low blood pressure and poor organ functions which cause a strong inflammatory response from the body that contributes to a septic shock.

septic tank (s) (noun), septic tanks (pl)
A large storage container where solid matter or sewage is disintegrated by bacteria: Dick bought a septic tank for his farm because he was too far away to take advantage of a community sewage system.

If you would like to learn about septic tanks for a better understanding of this important subject, you may do so from here.

septical (adjective), more septical, most septical
Descriptive of the ability of microbes to bring about the decomposition of waste: The owner of the farm supply store assured the farmer that the product he was buying was the most efficient septical system the store carried for use in septic tanks.
septicemia, septicaemia (s) (noun); septicemias, septicaemias (pl)
1. A morbid condition of the blood, characterized by the presence and possible multiplication of pathogenic bacteria entering from a region of infection; such as, an infected wound: Septicemia is marked by chills, fever, prostration, and degenerative and inflammatory changes in the internal organs.
2. A systemic disease caused by pathogenic organisms or their toxins in the bloodstream: Also known as blood poisoning, septicemia is a condition that is caused by the spread of germs and their infective elements via the circulating blood.

Bacteria often commonly enter the bloodstream (a condition called "bacteremia" or blood poisoning), but usually only a small number of bacteria do this and so no symptoms develop of septicemia.

Most bacteria that enter the bloodstream are rapidly removed by white blood cells. Sometimes there are too many bacteria to be removed easily, and septicemia can develop.

A sickness that is widespread throughout the bloodstream is called "sepsis", or septicemia, which can cause severe symptoms of illness.

Word families with similar applications about: "decay, rotten; wasting away; putrid, pus" word units: phthisio- (decay, waste away); puro- (pus); pus (viscous fluid via an infection); pustu- (blister, pimple); putre- (rotten, decayed); pyo- (pus; purulent); sapro- (rotten, putrid, putrefaction, decay); suppurant- (festering, forming or discharging pus); tabe- (wasting away, decaying).