Risk Factors for Sepsis | Sepsis

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<section class="cdc-page-title-bar cdc-page-offset noindex"> <time class="cdc-page-title-bar__item cdc-page-title-bar__item--date" datetime="2025-01-31 05:00:00"> January 31, 2025 </time> </section> <div class="cdc-page-title cdc-page-offset syndicate"> <h1>Risk Factors for Sepsis</h1> </div> <div id="content" class="cdc-page-content cdc-page-offset syndicate container"> <div class="cdc-dfe-body "> <div class="cdc-dfe-body__top "> <div class="dfe-section dfe-section--page-summary summary-blurb summary-paragraph" data-section="cdc_risk_factors_page_summary"> <div class="dfe-section__header"> <h2 class="editor-block--title" id="heading-c1zi9nkdxv">Key points</h2> </div> <div class="dfe-section__content"> <p>Anyone can develop sepsis, but some people are at higher risk for sepsis. </p> <div class="dfe-section__nav hide" id="dfe-section__nav"> <div class="dfe-section__nav__header" id="dfe-section__nav__header"> </div> <div class="dfe-section__nav-links" id="dfe-section__nav-links"> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="cdc-dfe-body__center "> <div class="dfe-section" data-section="cdc_risk_factors_who"> <a class="onThisPageAnchor" id="cdc_risk_factors_who-whos-at-risk" name="Who's%20at%20risk" title="Who's at risk"></a><h2 class="editor-block--title" id="heading-zut5nvyekl">Who's at risk</h2> <ul class="nested-list"> <li class="level-1">Adults 65 or older<ul> </ul> </li> <li class="level-1">Children younger than one<ul> </ul> </li> <li class="level-1">Women who are pregnant or post-partum<ul> </ul> </li> <li class="level-1">People who survived sepsis<ul> </ul> </li> <li class="level-1">People with chronic conditions, such as diabetes, lung disease, cancer and kidney disease<ul> </ul> </li> <li class="level-1">People with recent severe illness, surgery or hospitalization<ul> </ul> </li> <li class="level-1">People with weakened immune systems<ul> </ul> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="dfe-section" data-section="cdc_risk_factors_conditions"> <a class="onThisPageAnchor" id="cdc_risk_factors_conditions-conditions-that-can-increase-risk" name="Conditions%20that%20can%20increase%20risk" title="Conditions that can increase risk"></a><h2 class="editor-block--title" id="heading-gioydhp7zg">Conditions that can increase risk</h2> <h3 id="heading-x2by_nlncc">Cancer</h3> <p>Having cancer and undergoing certain treatments for cancer, such as some types of chemotherapy, can put you or your loved one at higher risk for developing an infection that could lead to sepsis. </p> <p>Chemotherapy works by killing the fastest-growing cells in your body—both good and bad. Along with killing cancer cells, some types of chemo also kill your infection-fighting white blood cells. </p> <h4 id="heading-jz3robrfqk">When is infection most likely?</h4> <p>An infection or sepsis can happen at any time. However, when your body has very low levels of a certain type of white blood cell (neutrophils) that increases your risk of getting an infection. This condition is a common side effect of chemo called neutropenia. </p> <h4 id="heading-fdk0-uqo6c">Signs of neutropenia</h4> <p>Your doctor will routinely test for neutropenia by checking the level of your white blood cells.</p> <div class="dfe-block dfe-block--keep_reading"><b>Keep Reading:</b> <a href="/sepsis/media/pdfs/cancer-infection-and-sepsis-fact-sheet-508.pdf" target="_blank">Cancer, Infection and Sepsis Fact Sheet<span aria-label=" pdf icon" role="img" class="sr-only"></span><span class="cdc-link-icon cdc-link-icon--pdf" aria-hidden="true"></span></a></div><h3 id="heading-trtk6ozlqf">Surviving sepsis</h3> <p>Sepsis survivors are at higher risk for getting sepsis again<sup></sup>.<span class="cdc-references-cite"><a class="cdc-references-cite__link" href="#cdcreference_1" aria-label="Reference link 1">1</a></span> </p> <div class="dfe-block dfe-block--keep_reading"><b>Keep Reading:</b> <a href="/sepsis/living-with/index.html">Managing Recovery from Sepsis</a></div> </div> <div class="dfe-section" data-section="cdc_risk_factors_resources"> <a class="onThisPageAnchor" id="cdc_risk_factors_resources-resources" name="Resources" title="Resources"></a><h2 class="editor-block--title" id="heading-jspjbeexrb">Resources</h2> <div class="dfe-links-layout--featured dfe-links-columns--1"><div class="dfe-curated-link dfe-curated-link--featured" data-post="673_7527"><figure class="dfe-curated-link__image dfe-image__featured"><div class="image-container aspect-ratio-16-9"><a href="/sepsis/communication-resources/index.html" title="<em>Get Ahead of Sepsis</em> Materials for Patients"><img src="/sepsis/media/images/HCP-speaking-to-a-patient-Sepsis-Materials-for-HCP.png" alt="Health Care Provider Speaking with a Patient and looking at a Brochure"></a></div></figure> <div class="dfe-curated-link__content featured"><div class="dfe-curated-link__title"><a class="cdc-block-link" href="/sepsis/communication-resources/index.html"><em>Get Ahead of Sepsis</em> Materials for Patients</a></div> <div class="dfe-curated-link__desc">Download or order materials to educate yourself and your loved ones about sepsis.</div> <time class="dfe-curated-link__date">Aug. 13, 2024</time> <div class="featured download"></div></div> <div class="dfe-curated-link__download"></div></div></div> </div> </div> <div class="cdc-dfe-body__right page-right-rail"> <aside class="page-right-rail__static noindex" role="complementary"> <div class="on-this-page " data-sid=""> <h2 class="on-this-page__heading"> On This Page </h2> <div class="card-body"> <ul> <li><a href="#cdc_risk_factors_who-whos-at-risk">Who's at risk</a></li> <li><a href="#cdc_risk_factors_conditions-conditions-that-can-increase-risk">Conditions that can increase risk</a></li> <li><a href="#cdc_risk_factors_resources-resources">Resources</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </aside> <aside class="page-right-rail__dynamic noindex" role="complementary"> <div data-related-nav></div> </aside> </div> </div> <div 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page-content-sources__section--references"><label for="page_references">References</label><ol id="page_references"><li id="cdcreference_1">Prescott HC, Langa KM, Iwashyna TJ. Readmission diagnoses after hospitalization for severe sepsis and other acute medical conditions.  <em>JAMA.</em> 2015;313(10):1055-1057.</li></ol></div> </div> </div> <section class="container related-pages related-pages__mobile"> <div data-related-nav-mobile></div> </section> </div> </main> <section class="site-footer container noindex"> <div class="row cdc-footer__inner"> <div class="col-lg-3 site-footer__heading has-home-link "> <h2> <a href="/sepsis/index.html" class="cdc-footer__super-title" aria-label="Sepsis"> <i class="cdc-icon cdc-fa-solid cdc-fa-house"></i> <span>Sepsis</span> <i class="cdc-icon cdc-fa-light cdc-fa-angle-right"></i> </a> </h2> <p class="cdc-footer__site-desc">Sepsis is the body’s extreme response to an infection. 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