Those most at risk of developing Sepsis include:
- newborns and pregnant women
- elderly adults
- people with weakened immune systems; e.g. for example, those with HIV or rheumatic diseases such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis
Other factors that can leave people at risk of developing septic shock include:
- having a major operation
- a lengthy stay in hospital
- diabetes
- poverty or poor nutrition
- exposure to devices like intravenous catheters, urinary catheters, or breathing tubes, which can introduce bacteria into the body