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A retrospective study of Mississippi hospital births from 2016 to 2025 recorded sepsis in 197 of 320,179 live births; 11 of those patients died. Sepsis was associated with higher rates among patients with preterm births, cesarean deliveries, chronic conditions, Black patients and Medicaid enrollees, though the study cannot establish what caused the differences.
A study of 320,179 live births in Mississippi from 2016 to 2025 found that sepsis was recorded in 197 births and involved in 11 patient deaths, highlighting a rare complication that accounted for a substantial share of delivery-associated hospital deaths. The retrospective analysis, led by Manuela Staneva of the University of Mississippi Medical Center, found higher sepsis rates among patients with preterm births, cesarean deliveries, chronic conditions, Black patients and Medicaid enrollees.
Sepsis was recorded in 0.06% of births, or 6.2 cases per 10,000 births. Eleven of the 197 patients with sepsis died, a case fatality rate of 5.6%. The researchers reported that sepsis was involved in 32.4% of delivery-associated hospital deaths in the study population. The findings were published in JAMA Network Open.
Compared with births without sepsis, births involving sepsis were more often preterm (54% versus 14%), delivered by cesarean (53% versus 33%), and involved patients with chronic conditions (54% versus 33%). The study also found higher proportions of Black patients (59% versus 42%) and Medicaid enrollees (64% versus 52%) among sepsis cases. These are associations, not proof that any one characteristic caused sepsis.
Among patients with sepsis, one in three developed respiratory distress syndrome, while 23.4% had acute kidney failure and 23.4% developed septic shock. Average total hospital charges were $134,844 for sepsis-associated deliveries, compared with $22,876 for deliveries without sepsis. These figures describe charges, not necessarily the amount paid or the final cost of care.
Sepsis Carries High Hospital Stakes
The findings show a sharp contrast between how often sepsis was recorded and how often it was involved in hospital deaths: it affected 0.06% of births but was involved in 32.4% of delivery-associated hospital deaths in this dataset. The result points to the potential severity of the complication in a state that has the nation’s third-highest maternal mortality rate, according to the source report.
The study also links sepsis cases with serious complications and much higher hospital charges. The findings may help state health officials identify groups and circumstances for closer attention, but they do not establish that race, insurance coverage, or delivery method independently caused the infections or outcomes.
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Mississippi Births in Focus
The researchers analyzed statewide hospital discharge data for Mississippi residents ages 10 to 49 who gave birth between 2016 and 2025. The study counted 197 sepsis-associated cases among 320,179 live births. Because it examined hospital records at one point in time, the analysis identifies patterns but cannot establish the direction of cause and effect.
Nationally, infection or sepsis was the third-leading cause of pregnancy-related deaths in 2024, accounting for 14.4% of those deaths, according to the CDC figures cited in the report. The study authors said Mississippi’s results support a statewide prevention plan focused on recognizing higher-risk patients and treating infections promptly.
“This finding highlights the heavy toll of obesity-related chronic comorbidity on maternal health in Mississippi.”
— Manuela Staneva, study lead and University of Mississippi Medical Center researcher, speaking to MedPage Today
Limits of the Mississippi Data
The study included 197 sepsis cases, a small number relative to the full birth population, and its cross-sectional design cannot determine whether cesarean delivery preceded infection or whether other factors affected both. The observed differences by race and insurance status also do not explain why those differences occurred. The data cover hospital births among Mississippi residents, so they do not establish patterns for every pregnancy or setting.
The report does not show whether a proposed statewide prevention plan has been adopted, how it would be funded, or whether any specific intervention would reduce sepsis cases or deaths. The reported hospital charges also do not indicate the final costs borne by patients, insurers or hospitals.
State Prevention Plans Ahead
The study authors called for Mississippi to develop a statewide prevention plan that identifies patients at higher risk and supports prompt infection treatment. They also urged action on chronic conditions among reproductive-age women. The source report does not give a timeline for a state response or identify a formal next milestone.
Further research with larger samples and designs that can clarify timing would help assess the observed associations, including the relationship between cesarean delivery and infection. For now, the study establishes the scale and severity recorded in Mississippi hospital data, while leaving the causes of the disparities and the effects of possible prevention steps unresolved.
Key Questions
How common was sepsis among the Mississippi births studied?
Sepsis was recorded in 197 of 320,179 live births from 2016 to 2025, or 6.2 cases per 10,000 births.
How many patients with sepsis died?
Eleven of the 197 patients with sepsis died, a case fatality rate of 5.6%. The study also reported that sepsis was involved in 32.4% of delivery-associated hospital deaths.
Which groups had higher recorded sepsis rates?
The study reported higher rates among patients with preterm births, cesarean deliveries, and Medicaid coverage, as well as among Black patients and those ages 35 to 49. These patterns are associations and do not establish why the differences occurred.
Did the study prove cesarean deliveries cause sepsis?
No. The researchers noted that the study’s cross-sectional design could not account for potential reverse causality between cesarean delivery and infection. It found an association, not proof of cause.
What did the researchers recommend?
The authors called for a Mississippi prevention plan focused on identifying higher-risk patients and treating infections promptly, alongside longer-term efforts to address chronic conditions among reproductive-age women.
Source: rss
