What vital sign is typically the first indicator of sepsis?

Body temperature is typically the first vital sign that indicates sepsis because this condition often leads to dysregulation of the body's temperature control mechanisms. In the early stages of sepsis, patients may exhibit either hyperthermia (elevated body temperature) or hypothermia (decreased body temperature), both of which are significant deviations from the normal range. These alterations in temperature serve as a key early alert for clinicians that an infection may be escalating into a systemic response, commonly known as sepsis.

While other vital signs like heart rate, blood pressure, and respiration rate also change in cases of sepsis, they often fluctuate in response to the initial temperature changes. Therefore, the initial detection of an abnormal body temperature is critical for the timely recognition and treatment of sepsis, potentially improving patient outcomes.