What vital sign is a key indicator of sepsis in patients?

Elevated heart rate and/or fever serve as critical indicators of sepsis in patients. When the body is responding to an infection, it frequently triggers an immune response characterized by a rise in body temperature, resulting in fever. Concurrently, the heart rate often increases as the body works to maintain oxygen delivery to tissues, which can be compromised in septic conditions.

These signs are part of the systemic inflammatory response that occurs in sepsis, where the body's response to infection can lead to widespread inflammation. Monitoring these vital signs is essential to detect sepsis early and initiate prompt treatment, as maintaining hemodynamic stability is crucial to improve patient outcomes.

Other options, while they may relate to various medical conditions, do not specifically capture the primary vital sign changes associated with sepsis as effectively as elevated heart rate and fever. Low blood pressure could indicate severe complications, but it may not present until later in the course of sepsis. Hypoxia and hyperglycemia, while also relevant in different contexts, are not direct indicators of sepsis. Lastly, normal respiratory rate and bradypnea do not correlate with the typical physiological changes seen in a septic patient.