Transfusion of Blood Products for Sepsis and Septic Shock See all the Surviving Sepsis Guidelines* *PulmCCM is not affiliated with the Surviving Sepsis Campaign. People with severe sepsis and septic shock frequently experience what could be termed "hematologic failure" -- abnormalities of blood cell lines and clotting / antithrombotic proteins that can occur in complex, protean patterns. Anemia, thrombocytopenia, leukopenia, disseminated intravascular coagulation, and functional deficiencies of coagulation factors are all common in people with severe sepsis or septic shock. Clinically evident bleeding or thrombosis caused by these derangements is unusual, and supportive care has been advised for most critically ill patients with hematologic abnormalities, with transfusion in selected severe cases.