Research, Advocacy, Leadership

Sepsis is a global health crisis.

• Every 3 seconds, someone dies of sepsis.

• Sepsis affects 48.9 million people annually.

• Sepsis is responsible for 1 in 5 deaths worldwide.

• WHO estimates 11 million annual deaths due to sepsis.

• 85% of the global sepsis burden is concentrated in the Global South, including low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) across Africa, Asia, and Latin America

• Yet, sepsis remains the leading cause of hospital deaths, even in high-income countries such as the United States of America. 

• Sepsis affects 20 million children under the age of five each year, including newborns.

• Women, the elderly, and immunocompromised individuals are also at high risk of severe outcomes.

• Early detection of suspected sepsis is life-saving.

• Every hour of delay in antibiotic treatment increases the risk of deaths by 0.4% to 7%

• Timely diagnosis and administration of antibiotics, IV fluids, immunomodulatory and other therapies save millions of lives.

• Sepsis kills more people than heart attacks or strokes, yet public awareness remains low.

• Sepsis is one of the best investment cases in Global Health.

• Every future pandemic will increase Sepsis risks and Sepsis should be embedded in pandemic preparedness plans.

In Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand, approximately 15,000 patients are admitted to intensive care units each year with sepsis.

Many surviving patients suffer from the consequences of sepsis for the rest of their lives.

Source:  World Sepsis Day website