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Risk factors for sepsis

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

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Risk factors for sepsis

  • people in the groups below are at higher risk of developing sepsis:
    • the very young (under 1 year) and older people (over 75 years) or

    • people who are very frail people who have impaired immune systems because of illness or

    • drugs, including:
      • people being treated for cancer with chemotherapy
      • people who have impaired immune function (for example, people with diabetes, people who have had a splenectomy, or people with sickle cell disease)
      • people taking long-term steroids
      • people taking immunosuppressant drugs to treat non-malignant disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis

    • people who have had surgery, or other invasive procedures, in the past 6 weeks

    • people with any breach of skin integrity (for example, cuts, burns, blisters or skin infections)

    • people who misuse drugs intravenously

    • people with indwelling lines or catheters

  • women who are pregnant, have given birth or had a termination of pregnancy or miscarriage in the past 6 weeks are in a high risk group for sepsis. In particular, women who:

    • have impaired immune systems because of illness or drugs
      • drugs, including:
        • people being treated for cancer with chemotherapy
        • people who have impaired immune function (for example, people with diabetes, people who have had a splenectomy, or people with sickle cell disease)
        • people taking long-term steroids
        • people taking immunosuppressant drugs to treat non-malignant disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis

    • have gestational diabetes or diabetes or other comorbidities

    • needed invasive procedures (for example, caesarean section, forceps delivery, removal of retained products of conception)

    • had prolonged rupture of membranes have or have been in close contact with people with group A streptococcal infection, for example, scarlet fever

    • have continued vaginal bleeding or an offensive vaginal discharge
  • risk factors for early-onset neonatal infection:

     
    • invasive group B streptococcal infection in a previous baby

    • maternal group B streptococcal colonisation, bacteriuria or infection in the current pregnancy

    • prelabour rupture of membranes

    • preterm birth following spontaneous labour (before 37 weeks' gestation)

    • suspected or confirmed rupture of membranes for more than 18 hours in a preterm birth

    • intrapartum fever higher than 38°C, or confirmed or suspected chorioamnionitis

    • parenteral antibiotic treatment given to the woman for confirmed or suspected invasive bacterial infection (such as septicaemia) at any time during labour, or in the 24-hour periods before and after the birth (this does not refer to intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis)

    • suspected or confirmed infection in another baby in the case of a multiple pregnancy

Reference:

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