Septic Shock UPDATED ACTUAL Exam
Questions and CORRECT Answers
sepsis - CORRECT ANSWER - Term used for infection of the blood
septic shock - CORRECT ANSWER - sepsis that leads to uncontrollable decreased blood
pressure and potentially multiple organ failure.
Who is most susceptible to septic shock? - CORRECT ANSWER - The very young, the very
old, and the immunocompromised (pre-existing disease or infection, pregnancy, those on steroid
medications, etc.)
Immunocompromised - CORRECT ANSWER - having a suppressed immune system for any
reason - stress, pregnancy, other infection, steroid medications, immune defects
What are five of the most common infections that are seen to progress to septic shock? -
CORRECT ANSWER - Urinary tract infections, pneumonia, peritonitis, skin wounds or
cellulitis
What Gram negative bacteria component that cause a cytokine storm? - CORRECT
ANSWER - Endotoxin, which is Lipid A on their outer lipid cell wall. This is particularly
irritating to our immune cells, and can cause systemic inflammation if it gets into the
bloodstream.
What Gram positive bacteria component(s) that cause a cytokine storm? - CORRECT
ANSWER - Some Gram positive bacteria make exotoxins that are considered "superantigens".
This means they can overstimulate our immune cells and cause systemic inflammation
cytokine storm - CORRECT ANSWER - Overstimulated WBCs release cytokines that can
cause systemic inflammation and platelet activation. This may result in septic shock and/or
disseminated intravascular clotting (DIC).
Questions and CORRECT Answers
sepsis - CORRECT ANSWER - Term used for infection of the blood
septic shock - CORRECT ANSWER - sepsis that leads to uncontrollable decreased blood
pressure and potentially multiple organ failure.
Who is most susceptible to septic shock? - CORRECT ANSWER - The very young, the very
old, and the immunocompromised (pre-existing disease or infection, pregnancy, those on steroid
medications, etc.)
Immunocompromised - CORRECT ANSWER - having a suppressed immune system for any
reason - stress, pregnancy, other infection, steroid medications, immune defects
What are five of the most common infections that are seen to progress to septic shock? -
CORRECT ANSWER - Urinary tract infections, pneumonia, peritonitis, skin wounds or
cellulitis
What Gram negative bacteria component that cause a cytokine storm? - CORRECT
ANSWER - Endotoxin, which is Lipid A on their outer lipid cell wall. This is particularly
irritating to our immune cells, and can cause systemic inflammation if it gets into the
bloodstream.
What Gram positive bacteria component(s) that cause a cytokine storm? - CORRECT
ANSWER - Some Gram positive bacteria make exotoxins that are considered "superantigens".
This means they can overstimulate our immune cells and cause systemic inflammation
cytokine storm - CORRECT ANSWER - Overstimulated WBCs release cytokines that can
cause systemic inflammation and platelet activation. This may result in septic shock and/or
disseminated intravascular clotting (DIC).
