Causes and Prevention

Sepsis results from an infection which may arise in the lungs, urinary tract, skin, abdomen or other part of the body.

The most common causes of sepsis are respiratory infections, abdominal infections (for example, after kidney or gall stones) and urinary infections. Sepsis may occur in patients both in the community and those already being treated in hospital . Sepsis can also occur due to an infection contracted after surgery.

Many different types of microbes, including bacteria, fungi and viruses, can cause sepsis but bacteria are the most common. Severe cases often result from a body-wide infection that spreads through the bloodstream, but sepsis can also stem from a localized infection.