Health Infographic

Infographic: Sepsis Awareness and Prevention

What to know about sepsis, a life-threatening condition caused by the body’s extreme response to infection that affects 1.7 million U.S. adults every year.

Sepsis facts

1.7 million adults in the U.S. develop sepsis every year.
350,000 adults die or are moved to hospice as a result.
Up to 50% of sepsis survivors suffer from long-term physical and/or psychological effects.

A 2023 survey of more than 1,000 Johns Hopkins Medicine patients found:

did not feel confident that they knew the early signs of sepsis.
had sepsis or knew someone who had sepsis.

symptoms of sepsis

Fever with severe, often with shaking chills
New onset confusion or difficulty staying awake
Rapid heartbeat
Shortness of breath
Clammy/sweaty skin
Mottled skin (patchy, uneven discoloration)
No urination for 12 hours or longer
Extreme pain/muscle discomfort

People at higher risk for sepsis include:

Adults 65 or older. Children younger than 1 year old.
People with chronic medical conditions, such as diabetes, lung disease, cancer and kidney disease
People with weakened immune systems or a prior episode of sepsis
People who are pregnant or post-partum

prevention

Wash your hands.
Keep cuts, surgical incisions, burns and abrasions clean and covered until healed.
Manage chronic conditions.
Get recommended vaccines.

Act fast

Any infection can lead to sepsis. Anyone who develops these severe systemic symptoms should get immediate medical attention. Treat it as a medical emergency.
If you continue to get worse or are not healing after an infection, ask your doctor about sepsis.