Which vital sign may indicate a potential infection or sepsis?

An elevated temperature, or fever, is a vital sign that commonly indicates the presence of an infection or sepsis. The body’s immune response to infection often results in an increase in body temperature as a way to create an environment less favorable for pathogens. When the body detects invading microorganisms, it releases pyrogens, which trigger the hypothalamus to raise the body’s temperature set point. This response not only helps in fighting infections but also represents a physiological response that can precede the progression to systemic issues such as sepsis, characterized by a pervasive and often dangerous systemic inflammatory response.

Other vital signs may also suggest issues; for instance, low blood pressure can occur in sepsis due to widespread vasodilation and loss of fluid from the vascular space. Increased heart rate, or tachycardia, is also a common response seen in infections and sepsis as the body attempts to maintain perfusion and oxygen delivery to tissues. However, a decrease in respiratory rate is atypical in these scenarios; typically, one would expect an increased respiratory rate due to the body’s need for more oxygen or compensating for metabolic acidosis that can accompany sepsis. Therefore, while other signs can point towards infection and sepsis, an elevated temperature is a hallmark