 [ Symptoms ] what is septic shock [ Disease ] septic shock is a dangerous condition that results when a severe infection evades the body is defenses the body is normal response to infection is a process called inflammation when inflammation is confined to one area of infection like a wound or a pneumonia the natural chemicals released help fight and control the infection in septic shock these inflammatory chemicals spread through the bloodstream where they do not belong these chemicals and substances released by bacteria cause blood pressure to fall to dangerously low levels antibiotics are the most important treatment for septic shock however antibiotics alone do not correct septic shock because the body is response to the infection is as harmful as the infection itself intravenous medicines to increase blood pressure vasopressors are needed during septic shock many people with septic shock become unconscious and some require mechanical ventilation life support to breathe septic shock can be fatal and there are few effective treatments in most cases treatment means providing life support until antibiotics and the person is immune system clear the infection and the massive inflammatory process subsides