What causes sepsis?
Many types of microbes can cause sepsis, including bacteria, fungi, and viruses. However, bacteria are the most common cause.
Severe cases of sepsis often result from a body-wide infection that spreads through the bloodstream. In some cases, bloodstream infection cannot be detected, and doctors use other information such as body temperature and mental status to diagnose sepsis.
Sepsis often results from infections to the lungs, stomach, kidneys, or bladder. It’s possible for sepsis to begin with a small cut that gets infected or an infection that develops after surgery. Sometimes, sepsis can occur in people who didn’t know that they had an infection.
Who gets sepsis?
Anyone can get sepsis. The people at highest risk are infants, children, older adults, and people who have serious injuries or medical problems such as diabetes, AIDS, cancer, or liver disease.
How many people get sepsis?
Each year, at least 1.7 million adults in America develop sepsis and nearly 270,000 die as a result.
1 The number of sepsis cases per year has been on the rise in the United States.
2 This is likely due to several factors:
- There is increased awareness and tracking of sepsis.
- People with chronic diseases are living longer, and the average age in the United States is increasing. Sepsis is more common and more dangerous in older adults and in those with chronic diseases.
- Some infections can no longer be cured with antibiotic drugs. Such antibiotic-resistant infections can lead to sepsis.
- Medical advances have made organ transplant operations more common. People are at higher risk for sepsis if they have had an organ transplant or have undergone any other procedure that requires the use of medications to suppress the immune system.
- Sepsis
