Septic shock is the most severe complication of sepsis, which is a reaction to an infection. A person with sepsis may go into septic shock, which can cause organ failure and other life threatening complications.
Sepsis occurs when the immune system produces an extreme and overactive response to an infection, which can lead to organ failure and tissue damage.
When someone with sepsis has low blood pressure that does not respond to fluid treatment, the body has gone into septic shock. This stops blood from flowing sufficiently and prevents vital organs from receiving enough oxygen.
This article compares sepsis and septic shock.