SNHD Paramedic Protocols Practice Test 2026 - Free Paramedic Protocols Practice Questions and Study Guide

The key idea here is recognizing sepsis severity through signs of poor perfusion. A systolic blood pressure below 90 mmHg indicates significant circulatory compromise, often seen in septic shock, which is a severe form of sepsis. When infection triggers widespread inflammatory effects, vessels dilate and capillaries leak, leading to falling blood pressure and inadequate tissue perfusion. This drop in SBP is a concrete criterion used to identify progression to septic shock and to guide urgent management, such as rapid fluids and expedited transport.

Tachycardia, tachypnea, and altered mental status can accompany infection and systemic inflammation, but they are nonspecific and can occur with many conditions. They help signal a systemic response but do not by themselves define sepsis or septic shock in the same way that persistent hypotension does.