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Risk factors
By Mayo Clinic staffSepsis can occur in anyone with an infection, but certain factors increase your risk.
Age
Sepsis occurs more often in people over the age of 65 and in infants.
Race
Black people are more likely than are white people to get sepsis, and black men face the highest risk.
Compromised immune system
Your risk of sepsis increases if your immune system has been weakened by:
- Cancer or cancer treatment
- HIV or AIDS
- Anti-rejection drugs taken after organ transplants
- Kidney or liver failure
Hospitalization
People who are in the hospital, particularly those in intensive care units, are at higher risk of developing sepsis.
Invasive medical devices
Your risk of sepsis is higher if you have:
- A urinary catheter
- A breathing tube
- Artificial joints
Medical conditions
Medical conditions that can increase your risk of sepsis include:
- Bacteremia, a bacterial infection in your blood
- Pneumonia
- Diabetes
- Severe injuries, such as bullet wounds or large burns
Genetics
Some people appear to have a genetic tendency toward developing sepsis.
- Neviere R. Sepsis and the systemic inflammatory response syndrome: Definitions, epidemiology and prognosis. http://uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed April 27, 2009.
- Shapiro NI, et al. Sepsis syndromes. In: Marx JA, et al. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 6th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby Elsevier; 2006. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/133981928-3/0/1365/424.html#4-u1.0-B0-323-02845-4..50141-4--cesec18_7402. Accessed April 27, 2009.
- Enrione MA, et al. Sepsis, septic shock and systemic inflammatory response syndrome. In: Kliegman RM, et al. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 18th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/133981928-3/0/1608/514.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-2450-7..50178-X--cesec6_4006. Accessed April 27, 2009.
- Neviere R. Pathophysiology of sepsis. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed April 27, 2009.
- Rivers EP, et al. Improving outcomes for severe sepsis and septic shock: Tools for Early identification of at-risk patients and treatment protocol implementation. Critical Care Clinics. 2008;23:S1.
- Chest X-ray. Radiological Society of North America. http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?PG=chestrad. Accessed April 29, 2009.
- CT: Body. Radiological Society of North America. http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=bodyct. Accessed April 29, 2009.
- Abdominal ultrasound. Radiological Society of North America. http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?PG=abdominus. Accessed April 29, 2009.
- MRI of the spine. Radiological Society of North America. http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?PG=spinemr. Accessed April 29, 2009.
- Schmidt GA, et al. Management of severe sepsis and septic shock in adults. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed April 29, 2009.
