Final answer:
The statement that a non-infectious condition can lead to sepsis is false. Sepsis is a severe immune response triggered by infection, not by non-infectious diseases although non-infectious conditions might predispose one to developing infections that could progress to sepsis.
Step-by-step explanation:
When considering whether a non-infectious condition can lead to sepsis, it is important to understand the nature of sepsis itself. Sepsis is primarily an inflammatory response known as systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), which can be triggered by microbes and microbial toxins entering the bloodstream. This often results in damage to host tissues and organs due to an aggressive and counterproductive immune response. Bacterial infections, particularly bacterial pneumonia, are typically associated with the onset of sepsis.
Noninfectious diseases, by definition, are not caused by pathogens. They result from genetic, lifestyle, and environmental factors. However, certain noninfectious conditions, such as severe trauma or burns, can predispose a patient to infections that may lead to sepsis by compromising the body's defense mechanisms. Nonetheless, without the subsequent infection occurring, a non-infectious condition alone does not lead to sepsis as the hallmark of sepsis involves an exacerbated immune response specifically against an infection.
Therefore, the correct answer to the question is False, a non-infectious condition alone cannot lead to sepsis.