A patient has fever, tachycardia, and hypotension; which life-threatening condition is suspected?

• A. Anaphylaxis
• B. Pulmonary embolism
• C. Hypovolemic shock
• D. Sepsis or septic shock; initiate sepsis protocol and notify rapid response.

Answer: (D)

Fever with tachycardia and hypotension points to a systemic infection impacting circulation, which is most consistent with sepsis progressing toward septic shock. Fever indicates infection; tachycardia is a common physiologic response to systemic inflammation, and hypotension signals impaired perfusion from this process. While the other conditions can cause low blood pressure and fast heart rate, fever is not typical for hypovolemic shock or pulmonary embolism, and anaphylaxis usually includes airway and skin symptoms along with possible hypotension but not the infectious fever pattern. The appropriate action is to initiate the sepsis protocol and alert the rapid response team so the patient can receive urgent evaluation, blood cultures, lactate, broad-spectrum antibiotics, and aggressive fluid resuscitation.