Final answer:
Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC) (option A) is the condition set by platelet-activating factor, microclot development, and fibrinolytic system activation in septic shock, involving both clot formation and increased bleeding risk.
Step-by-step explanation:
The condition that platelet-activating factor, the development of microclots, and activation of the fibrinolytic system in septic shock set the stage for is Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC). DIC is a complex disorder wherein there is both excessive clot formation and, paradoxically, an increased risk of bleeding due to the consumption of clotting factors and platelets. In septic shock, the overproduction of pro-inflammatory cytokines leads to widespread endothelial injury, which in turn triggers the coagulation cascade.
The systemic activation of this cascade can result in the formation of numerous microclots throughout the body's small blood vessels. This process not only obliterates the vessels, leading to tissue ischemia and organ damage, but also consumes coagulation factors and platelets to such an extent that widespread bleeding can occur.