Sepsis refers to a systemic infection, usually caused by toxins produced by bacteria. Septic patients may require broad-spectrum antibiotics, invasive blood pressure monitoring (catheters placed into the radial artery of the wrist, for example), central lines (catheters placed into a large vein, either in the neck, groin, or underneath the clavicle) to monitor fluid status, vasopressors (discussed above) to treat hypotension, and/or a variety of other medications used to treat the wide-spread inflammatory response seen in sepsis.