Home/Topics/General Medical Terms/sepsis General Medical Terms Infectious Diseases sepsis Listen Save Share Print Meaning of sepsis: The presence of bacteria or their toxins in the blood or tissues. Definition of sepsis The presence of bacteria or their toxins in the blood or tissues. Written and maintained by James Murray · Last updated July 21, 2026 Educational reference, not medical advice. Read the limitations. Keep exploringRelated termsMore in General Medical Terms → Infection & Immunity infection Invasion and multiplication of a microorganism in or on the body. Read definition → Medications & Pharmacology doxycycline One of the few antibiotics that reaches organisms living inside human cells, which is why tick-borne and atypical infections come back to it. Read definition → Infection & Immunity cellulitis Redness appearing on both legs at once is rarely cellulitis, since the infection almost always settles on one side only. Read definition → Medications & Pharmacology metronidazole The drug arrives inactive and becomes a poison only inside organisms that live without oxygen, which is the source of its narrow aim. Read definition →
Infection & Immunity infection Invasion and multiplication of a microorganism in or on the body. Read definition →
Medications & Pharmacology doxycycline One of the few antibiotics that reaches organisms living inside human cells, which is why tick-borne and atypical infections come back to it. Read definition →
Infection & Immunity cellulitis Redness appearing on both legs at once is rarely cellulitis, since the infection almost always settles on one side only. Read definition →
Medications & Pharmacology metronidazole The drug arrives inactive and becomes a poison only inside organisms that live without oxygen, which is the source of its narrow aim. Read definition →