Abstract Background: Sepsis is considered to induce immune suppression, leading to increased susceptibility to secondary infections with associated late mortality. Aim: To assess the risk factors of patients with septic shock in the intensive care unit. Study design: a descriptive research design was utilized in this study. Setting: The study was conducted in the general intensive care unit and trauma intensive care unit at Assuit University Hospital. Sample: A purposive 60 patients with septic shock patients. Tools: two tools used for data collection, tool (1), Patient assessment sheet, and tool (2), risk factors assessment sheet. Results: The main risk factors were dysfunction of one or more of the major body systems, tracheostomy (65.0%), diabetes mellitus (65.0%) and respiratory disease, in addition, more than half of them stay more than 20 days in the ICU and half of them suffered from respiratory failure as a complication of septic shock. Conclusion: major factors that were associated with in-hospital mortality among ICU patients with severe sepsis or septic shock were multi-organ failure and DM which despite treatment with early resuscitation. Recommendation: Applied Nursing guidelines and standard precautions infection control of patients with septic shock at the onset of intensive care unit admission.