What describes circulatory failure associated with severe sepsis?

Severe sepsis is a significant condition that includes a systemic inflammatory response to infection, leading to various complications, including circulatory failure. When circulatory failure occurs in conjunction with severe sepsis, it specifically progresses to a state known as septic shock. This is characterized by persistent hypotension (low blood pressure) despite adequate fluid resuscitation and often requires vasopressor support to maintain adequate blood flow and organ perfusion.

The importance of recognizing septic shock lies in how it reflects a more critical state of sepsis, wherein the body’s response to infection has escalated to a life-threatening level, impacting circulation and potentially leading to organ dysfunction.

Other terms like sepsis and septicemia describe earlier stages or elements of the same spectrum but do not encompass the specific condition of circulatory failure. SIRS (Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome) describes a general response to a variety of insults, not limited to infection. Therefore, septic shock is the most precise descriptor of circulatory failure associated with severe sepsis.