Who can get it

Who's more likely to get sepsis

Anyone with an infection can get sepsis.

Some people are more likely to get an infection that could lead to sepsis, including:

• babies under 1, particularly if they're born early (premature) or their mother had an infection while pregnant
• people over 75
• people with diabetes
• people with a weakened immune system, such as those having chemotherapy treatment or who recently had an organ transplant
• people with a genetic disorder that affects their immune system, such as people with Down's syndrome or sickle cell disease
• people who have recently had surgery or a serious illness
• women who have just given birth, had a miscarriage or had an abortion

If you're more likely to get an infection that could lead to sepsis and you become unwell, get medical help as soon as you can. Let the medical team know about any conditions you have or reasons why you might be more at risk.

You cannot catch sepsis from another person. It happens when your body overreacts to an infection.

How to help prevent infections

It's not always possible to prevent sepsis.

There are things you can do to help prevent infections that can lead to sepsis.