People with sepsis are treated in hospital and those with severe sepsis are usually treated in the intensive care unit. Treatment targets the infection, while supporting vital organs and giving intravenous fluids and drugs to maintain blood pressure.
In severe cases when organs fail, life-support treatments such as artificial ventilation (breathing machine) or kidney dialysis, may be necessary. Surgery may be needed to control a local site of infection such as in appendicitis or following a perforated bowel.
