Very mild, temporary bacteremia may occur when a person clenches his jaw, because bacteria living on the gums around the teeth are forced into the bloodstream. Bacteria often enter the bloodstream from the intestine, but they are rapidly removed as the blood passes through the liver. Sepsis becomes more likely when there is an infection in the body, such as in the lungs, abdomen, urinary tract, or skin. Sepsis can also result when surgery is performed on an infected area or on a part of the body where bacteria normally grow, such as the intestine. The likelihood of sepsis increases the longer the object is left in place.
Sepsis commonly occurs in injecting drug users.
However, once sepsis becomes established, symptoms include shaking, chills, fever, weakness, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Diagnosis Sepsis is the likely diagnosis when a person with an infection anywhere in the body suddenly develops a high fever. If the person has sepsis, usually the number of white cells in the blood is greatly increased. Blood cultures are used to grow and identify the infecting organism. However, bacteria may not grow in a blood culture, particularly if the person is taking antibiotics.