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Former US President Bill Clinton (archive image)
Photo: Mary Altaffer / AP
Former US President Bill Clinton left the clinic after several days in hospital.
After treating an infection, the 75-year-old was discharged from the hospital in Irvine, California on Sunday morning (local time), said the head of his medical team there, Alpesh N. Amin, in a statement distributed by Clinton's spokesman via Twitter.
Clinton's body temperature and white blood cell count have normalized, the doctor said in a statement.
The ex-president could therefore complete his antibiotic treatment at home in New York.
The news channel CNN showed how Clinton left the clinic arm in arm with his wife Hillary and raised his thumb.
In front of television cameras, he shook hands with several hospital workers and looked a little frail.
Clinton had spent five nights in the clinic.
Sepsis can be life threatening
According to US media, Clinton initially suffered from a urinary tract infection, which then spread to the bloodstream.
This resulted in sepsis, i.e. blood poisoning.
The first complaints arose when Clinton made an appointment for his foundation in California.
A corona infection or heart problems were ruled out as the cause of his symptoms in the hospital.
Sepsis can be life-threatening and is one of the most serious consequences of infectious diseases.
It occurs when the body's own immune reaction in the defense against pathogens damages its own organs.
It can be treated with antibiotics.
If it is not treated in time, sepsis can lead to multiple organ failure.
Clinton was US President from 1993 to 2001.
In 1998, impeachment proceedings were initiated against him for attempting to cover up his affair with intern Monica Lewinsky.
However, the Senate voted against impeachment in February 1999.
In 2001, Clinton was replaced in office by George W. Bush.
The Democrat has suffered from health problems more often in the past.
In 2004, at the age of 58, he underwent quadruple bypass surgery after doctors diagnosed heart disease.
Since then, Clinton, who is said to have a penchant for fatty foods, switched to a plant-based diet.
In 2010 he had a stent inserted.
Clinton lives in Chappaqua, New York, with his wife, Hillary.
kry / AFP
