The Long-term Sepsis Prognosis After Your Recovery

Most patients who survive sepsis will go on to make full recovery and return to normal daily activity. However patients and caregivers often have questions about the long-term sepsis prognosis.

Despite significant improvement in the management of sepsis, some patients do develop complications that can have debilitating and disabling physical and mental long-term effects. These include:

Physical effects of sepsis:

• Generalized and disabling body aches and joint pains
• Breathing problems: require support with breathing machines (ventilators, BiPAP / CPAP, oxygen)
• Feeding problems
• Kidney problems: require support with hemodialysis
• Loss of digits or limbs

Mental effects of sepsis:

Post-Sepsis Syndrome can affect up to 50% of sepsis survivors especially if you were admitted to the intensive care unit. Symptoms include:

• Sleeping irregularities: insomnia, difficulty falling or staying asleep; nightmares, hallucinations
• Confusion / inability to concentrate
• Mood changes, panic attacks
• Social isolation, depression