Current concepts of the role of viruses as an etiological factor in sepsis

Abstract

Sepsis is a life-threatening condition resulting from a dysregulated immune response to infection and characterized by multiple organ dysfunction. Historically, the contribution of viruses to sepsis pathogenesis has been underestimated, largely due to diagnostic limitations and the established predominance of bacterial etiologies. Prior to the widespread adoption of modern molecular diagnostics, many viral sepsis cases were likely misclassified as being of unspecified origin, thereby skewing epidemiological understanding and obscuring the true burden of viral sepsis. This review synthesizes current data on the spectrum of viral agents implicated in sepsis, their associated clinical presentations, vulnerable populations, and the epidemiological landscape both globally and within the Russian Federation. The presented analysis emphasizes the need to reassess traditional views on the etiology of sepsis and highlights the importance of further investigation into the role of viral agents in the development of this life-threatening condition.