Septic (pronounced septik, from Greek sepein = to rot, putrefy), literally means rotten.
In medicine, a term septic may have different meanings:
- Septic - contaminated by microbes, as opposed to aseptic – microbes free, sterile.
- Septic system, including septic tank, is a system for wastewater and sewage disposal.
- Septic infection is an infection with localized pus collection in particular organ. Examples are septic wound, septic arthritis, septic meningitis, septic pleural effusion, etc.
- Septicemia may, to some, mean bacteremia, and to others sepsis, what may be quite confusing, so finding out exact meaning of septicemia from the context of particular health text is important.
- Sepsis or blood infection is a serious health condition, in which microbes invade the blood (usually from existing severe infection, like pneumonia) and trigger high fever, rapid breathing and heartbeat.
- Septic shock is a life threatening condition with a sudden, severe drop in blood pressure during sepsis.
