SAN DIEGO — A record 75% of U.S. adults say they’re familiar with the term “sepsis,” up from 69% in 2024 and just 19% when the survey began in 2003, according to the 2025 Sepsis Alliance Awareness Survey.
Sepsis is a life-threatening medical emergency that occurs when the body’s response to infection harms its own tissues and organs. It is the leading cause of death in U.S. hospitals and the most expensive reason for hospitalization, costing an estimated $62 billion each year, the Sepsis Alliance reported.
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Each hour treatment is delayed raises sepsis mortality 4% to 9%, underscoring the need for rapid recognition and care.
The survey shows progress in awareness of sepsis but also persistent gaps. Among white adults, 84% reported awareness, compared with 60% of Black adults and 56% of Hispanic adults. By age group, awareness was highest among Boomers (82%), followed by Gen X (77%), Millennials (73%), and Gen Z (66%). Awareness also varied by income, with 84% of adults in households earning $80,000 or more reporting awareness compared with 68% of those earning less than $40,000. By education level, 88% of adults with a postgraduate degree were aware of the term, compared with 64% of adults with a high school education or less.
“This year’s results show that our collective efforts are making a difference,” President and CEO of Sepsis Alliance Thomas Heymann said. “But we can’t stop here. The gaps in awareness signal that we must continue working to ensure every person, regardless of background, has access to critical information that can save lives.”
Personal clinicians remain the most trusted health source (89%), followed by friends/family (79%) and nonprofits (64%). Social media ranks last, only 17% trust it, and 83% say they do not. In the past year, 67% visited a healthcare provider, but just 41% received a vaccination, underscoring opportunities to boost infection and sepsis prevention.
