Sepsis is a life-threatening condition manifesting with systemic organ dysfunction due to a dysregulated immune response to an infection. In the past 2 decades, its overall incidence has increased by approximately 9% per year, which is mainly attributed to comorbidities associated with aging and its broader diagnosis.1,2 Sepsis accounts for more than 50% of the in-hospital mortality in the United States and poses a substantial economic burden due to extensive utilization of hospital resources in its treatment.3, 4, 5, 6 Sepsis can originate from various organ systems, but pneumonia is the most common cause.7

Interventional radiology (IR) is often consulted to help manage various sources of infection through both the drainage of fluid collections or abscesses in the chest, abdomen, or soft tissues and the decompression of obstructed urinary and biliary systems. Sepsis may occur from the infected collection, urinary obstruction, biliary obstruction itself, as well as from translocation of bacteria from manipulation during the IR procedure. Interventions which require traversing solid organs such as the liver or kidney to drain collections can carry a higher risk for septic complication due to the potential release of infectious material directly into the systemic circulation.8,9 Given that sepsis is becoming more prevalent in the hospital setting, coupled with the increasing role of IR in offering minimally invasive therapies, it is essential that IRs be proficient in the prompt diagnosis as well as the early treatment of sepsis.10

The present review aims to highlight sepsis criteria, tools for detecting sepsis, management recommendations, and common sources of infection in IR.