The issue is that sepsis is very poorly defined, difficult to distinguish from other conditions, and very serious if missed. This means that I get automated alerts for patients all day querying sepsis, but probably only 5% (maybe fewer) have any signs of infection clinically. This reflects clinical practice where we overtreat initially and then row back treatment if things improve.

I can go for a run on a hot day- I'll be pyrexic, tachypnoeic, and tachycardic- enough to trigger a sepsis alert. Whereas an elderly patient who is a bit more confused than normal may have a very severe raging infection with few changes in their markers.