The incidence of sepsis is reportedly increasing by 8% annually (adjusting for population). The highest increases in cases of severe sepsis are reported in older adults and the nonwhite population. The rise in the number of cases is believed to be caused by:
- Immunosuppressive conditions, including HIV/AIDS, cancer, and solid organ tumors
- Increased use of invasive procedures
- Immunosuppressive drugs
- Chemotherapy
- Organ transplantation
- Prosthetic implants
- Antimicrobial resistance
Age is a risk factor in itself, even without an underlying medical condition. With the aging of the "baby boomer" generation, the United States will soon have a larger group of people over the age of 65 than it has ever had before in the history of the country. The number of people over the age of 65 in 2030 is predicted to be double what it was in 2000. Oltermann has dubbed this potential occurrence the "sepsis boom."3
