Interventional radiologists often treat patients who are at risk of becoming acutely septic while in the radiology department. Identifying those most at risk and initiating treatment plans before the acute situation are fundamental to this difficult group of patients. Treatment plans for life-threatening infection are based on controlling the source of infection and administering appropriate systemic antimicrobial therapy as well as volume and cardiopulmonary support. The purpose of this review is to provide a framework for the diagnosis and treatment of sepsis in the interventional radiology patient.