Risk factors and vulnerable groups
Who is at higher risk of severe sepsis and septic shock.
High‑risk groups
- Age extremes: newborns/infants and older adults have less physiologic reserve and may deteriorate quickly.
- Immunocompromised states: cancer therapy, transplant, HIV, long-term steroids, biologics, severe malnutrition.
- Asplenia or hyposplenia: higher risk of overwhelming infection from encapsulated bacteria (medical emergency).
- Pregnancy/post-partum, chronic kidney/liver disease, diabetes, and recent major surgery are also higher risk.
Practical implication
- For high-risk people, treat any rapidly progressive infection symptoms as urgent—do not “wait it out”.
- If fever is absent, do not assume safety: sepsis can present with confusion, low blood pressure, fast breathing, mottled skin, or collapse.
Sepsis‑ready Anonamed checklist
If sepsis is suspected, minutes matter. Keep these fields current so clinicians can treat fast and safely.
- Allergies — especially antibiotics (penicillins/cephalosporins), contrast, latex
- Current medications — anticoagulants, steroids, chemotherapy/biologics, insulin
- Immunocompromised status — transplant, HIV, neutropenia, long‑term steroids
- Asplenia / hyposplenia flag — “high risk of overwhelming infection”
- Major conditions — heart/lung/kidney/liver disease, diabetes, pregnancy/post‑partum
- Devices / recent procedures — lines, catheters, implants, recent surgery
- Baseline vitals where relevant (e.g., usual BP, oxygen, pulse)
- Emergency contacts and preferred hospital/doctor (if applicable)
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Anonamed: This sepsis reference hub is co-branded with Anonamed. Keeping your emergency record updated can reduce delays and prevent errors when you cannot speak for yourself.