New York State Mandated Infection Control Practice Test

Bacterial infections are a primary cause of sepsis because sepsis most commonly arises when the body's response to an infection spirals out of control. This overwhelming immune response can occur when bacteria enter the bloodstream and multiply, leading to widespread inflammation, tissue damage, and potential organ failure.

While viral infections can cause severe illnesses, they typically do not lead to sepsis as frequently as bacterial infections do. Stress factors and genetic predisposition can impact an individual's overall health and ability to fight infections but are not direct causes of sepsis. Instead, they may contribute to the severity of the condition or a person’s susceptibility to infections but are not the initiating factor leading to sepsis itself. Therefore, understanding that bacterial infections are the main culprit for triggering the cascade of events leading to sepsis highlights the critical nature of addressing bacterial infections promptly and effectively.