EPO and infection: This may be attributed to infection-related hemolysis, bone marrow suppression, or inflammatory cytokine–induced erythropoietin resistance, all of which are common in sepsis-related anemia.[15] Neutrophil counts were significantly elevated in the sepsis group (6.36 ± 4.91) versus the control group (4.73 ± 3.26), with P = .002.