In the Opening Session of the 6th World Sepsis Congress, Dorothee Bär, Federal Minister of Research, Technology, and Space of Germany, delivered a deeply personal and impactful address, underscoring the urgent global challenge of sepsis, particularly among newborns, children, and mothers.

Speaking as both a policymaker and a mother of three, she emphasized the profound tragedy of preventable deaths from sepsis, noting that while knowledge and effective treatments exist, they too often fail to reach those most in need. She highlighted Germany’s long-standing commitment to sepsis research through targeted funding programs focused on infection control, neonatal care, and the translation of research into clinical practice, even in remote settings.

Minister Bär stressed the importance of early detection, rapid response, and equitable access to care worldwide. She also pointed to the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance, warning that it could further exacerbate the dangers of sepsis if left unaddressed. In response, she reaffirmed Germany’s commitment to international collaboration, particularly through initiatives such as the STAIRS network, which aims to strengthen research capacity, training, and healthcare infrastructure in partner regions.

Reflecting on lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic, she called for continued global cooperation in science and research to protect vulnerable populations and improve outcomes.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to Minister Bär for her thoughtful and compassionate remarks and for her continued support of global efforts to combat sepsis. Her commitment to advancing research, fostering international partnerships, and ensuring that life-saving knowledge reaches every corner of the world is both encouraging and essential.

The 6th World Sepsis Congress concluded – thank you so much for joining last week. You can watch the recordings of all 15 sessions here on the congress website, here on our YouTube Channel, or in the YouTube app (just search for World Sepsis Congress).

We’d really value your feedback on the 6th World Sepsis Congress. It only takes about 3 minutes, is completely anonymous, and helps us understand what worked well and where we can improve. Your input directly shapes future congresses, so if you can spare a moment, please take our survey.

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Over two days, 90 leading experts, frontline clinicians, researchers, policymakers, sepsis survivors, and advocates from around the world shared state-of-the-art knowledge, evidence, innovations, and lived experiences. Together, examined what works: from community-based prevention to hospital-based critical care, and where critical gaps remain. We highlighted scalable solutions, explored the role of digital health and artificial intelligence, and forged practical pathways to reduce preventable deaths among newborns, children, and women.

Additionally, the congress featured two panel discussions, one featuring the voices of women, children, and families, and another focusing on emergency, critical, and operative care (ECO) pathways in mother-child settings.

The 6th World Sepsis Congress is just hours away – we are starting with the Opening Session (embedded above) today, Wednesday, April 22, 2026, at 14:00h Central European Summer Time. From then on, a new session will start every 90 minutes – review the full program here.

This year, we are making the Congress even more accessible than ever by streaming to YouTube directly – that means you can join via the Congress website (here), via the YouTube website (here), or via the YouTube app on your phone or tablet – just search for World Sepsis Congress on YouTube.

Over two days, 90 leading experts, frontline clinicians, researchers, policymakers, sepsis survivors, and advocates from around the world will share state-of-the-art knowledge, evidence, innovations, and lived experiences. Together, we will examine what works: from community-based prevention to hospital-based critical care, and where critical gaps remain. We will highlight scalable solutions, explore the role of digital health and artificial intelligence, and forge practical pathways to reduce preventable deaths among newborns, children, and women.

Additionally, the congress will feature two panel discussions, one featuring the voices of women, children, and families, and another focusing on emergency, critical, and operative care (ECO) pathways in mother-child settings.

The 6th World Sepsis Congress is almost here, taking place live, free of charge, and fully online on April 22 and 23, 2026.

We are starting with the Opening Session (embedded above) on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, at 14:00h Central European Summer Time. From then on, a new session will start every 90 minutes – review the full program here.

This year, we are making the Congress even more accessible than ever by streaming to YouTube directly – that means you can join via the Congress website (here), via the YouTube website (here), or via the YouTube app on your phone or tablet – just search for World Sepsis Congress on YouTube.

Over two days, 90 leading experts, frontline clinicians, researchers, policymakers, sepsis survivors, and advocates from around the world will share state-of-the-art knowledge, evidence, innovations, and lived experiences. Together, we will examine what works: from community-based prevention to hospital-based critical care, and where critical gaps remain. We will highlight scalable solutions, explore the role of digital health and artificial intelligence, and forge practical pathways to reduce preventable deaths among newborns, children, and women.

Additionally, the congress will feature two panel discussions, one featuring the voices of women, children, and families, and another focusing on emergency, critical, and operative care (ECO) pathways in mother-child settings.

In exactly 3 weeks, World Sepsis Congress will return – we are thrilled to announce that registrations for the 6th World Sepsis Congress are now open.

Under the theme Universal Sepsis Care for Newborns, Children, and Women, this free virtual event on April 22-23, 2026 will bring together thousands of participants from across the world to address one of our time's most pressing global health challenges.

Over two days, 90 leading experts, frontline clinicians, researchers, policymakers, sepsis survivors, and advocates from around the world will share state-of-the-art knowledge, evidence, innovations, and lived experiences. Together, we will examine what works: from community-based prevention to hospital-based critical care, and where critical gaps remain. We will highlight scalable solutions, explore the role of digital health and artificial intelligence, and forge practical pathways to reduce preventable deaths among newborns, children, and women.

Additionally, the congress will feature two panel discussions, one featuring the voices of women, children, and families, and another focusing on emergency, critical, and operative care (ECO) pathways in mother-child settings.

For the first time ever, we will stream the congress directly to our YouTube Channel, making it easier to join across via the app, the web, and the congress website itself, as well as even more interactive via the live chat on YouTube. We encourage you to join us live and seize the opportunity to ask questions to our speakers and panelists.

Registration for the 6th World Sepsis Congress is now open. Attendees can participate live on their internet-connected devices and access recordings on demand after the event. Join us as we come together to tackle sepsis, save lives, and create a healthier, more sustainable future.

In April 2026, the Global Sepsis Alliance (GSA) and the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) will launch a landmark collaboration to transform the global response to Sepsis. 

“Saving Lives from Sepsis: From Evidence to Impact” is a joint initiative of the partner organizations in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and supported by a grant from the Laerdal Foundation. The initiative represents one of the most comprehensive international efforts to strengthen Sepsis research and elevate this medical emergency higher on the global health agenda.

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Sepsis – A Global Health Emergency

Sepsis remains one of the most pressing but under-recognized health challenges worldwide. It is responsible for 1 in every 5 deaths globally, placing immense strain on healthcare systems and societies. According to estimates published in The Lancet, 48.9 million people develop Sepsis each year, and 11 million newborns, children, and adults die from this medical emergency. Updated estimates published in October 2025 suggest 166 million cases and 21.4 million Sepsis-related deaths in 2021 alone.

Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization, has emphasized that most of the 11 million deaths caused by Sepsis each year are preventable through low-cost infection prevention and control measures, and that nobody should die from Sepsis while seeking care.

Yet despite its massive burden, Sepsis continues to receive insufficient political attention and financial investment - particularly in low-resource settings where data gaps remain significant. These gaps ultimately slow progress toward the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Universal Health Coverage (UHC), especially in efforts to reduce maternal, newborn, and child mortality.

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How the Project will Change the Status Quo 

GSA and SCCM, working with WHO and the WHO-hosted Acute Care Action Network (ACAN) and supported by a historic grant from the Laerdal Foundation, will lead three interconnected flagship initiatives to strengthen global evidence, research priorities, and the real-world implementation of Sepsis care.

Initiative 1. Global Report on the Health System Response to Sepsis

WHO will lead the development of the first global report and dashboard assessing how health systems worldwide prevent, detect, and manage Sepsis. The report, developed with technical input from GSA and SCCM, will be launched on World Sepsis Day (13 September 2027) and presented during a Sepsis side event held in parallel to the 82nd Session of the United Nations General Assembly.

Initiative 2. 2026–2030 Global Sepsis Research Strategy

Beginning in May 2026, GSA and SCCM will work with WHO to lead a global expert and multi-stakeholder consultation process using the Utstein methodology to define priorities for the 2026–2030 Global Sepsis Research Strategy. The strategy will be presented during a Sepsis side in parallel to the 81st Session of the UN General Assembly in September 2026. The accompanying Sepsis Research Toolkits will be launched at a dedicated side event on the margins of the 80th World Health Assembly in May 2027.

Initiative 3. 10×10×10 Implementation Science Initiative

Led by SCCM and GSA with support from ACAN participant organizations, this initiative will evaluate the implementation of the WHO Sepsis Care Guidelines and tools across 10 countries in different geographic regions and resource settings. This implementation research will also document patient journeys and release 10 Sepsis Patient and Family Case Studies. Final results of the initiative will be presented at the 81st World Health Assembly in May 2028.

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From Evidence to Impact

This historic collaboration aims to save millions of lives and strengthen health systems worldwide by aligning global expertise, strengthening research priorities, and accelerating the implementation of proven sepsis care practices.

In his address to the 9th Annual Meeting of the European Sepsis Alliance, ESA Patron Vytenis Andriukaitis delivered a strong call to translate political commitments on sepsis into concrete action across Europe.

Reflecting on the ESA’s landmark Call to Action launched at the European Parliament last year, he stressed that progress must now be matched by implementation. Despite growing awareness, major gaps remain, leaving millions of Europeans at risk.

Highlighting the scale of the challenge, Andriukaitis pointed to the latest estimates of 1.27 million sepsis-related deaths annually in the EU, underlining that many of these deaths are preventable with stronger political will and coordinated action. He also emphasized the close link between sepsis and antimicrobial resistance, describing sepsis as its “human face.”

Andriukaitis echoed WHO Europe Regional Director Hans Kluge’s call for a comprehensive European Sepsis Plan. He welcomed the support of WHO Europe and called for sepsis to be fully integrated into EU health security, pandemic preparedness, and the broader European Health Union framework.

The ESA Patron also drew attention to the critical intersection between sepsis and cancer. With cancer patients facing a tenfold higher risk of developing sepsis—and a mortality rate of around 50% among those affected, he urged policymakers to embed sepsis prevention, early detection, and management into national cancer plans.

Concluding his remarks, he called on EU institutions and Member States to act decisively: establish clear metrics, allocate dedicated resources, and ensure coordinated implementation across agencies.

“By working together across borders and disciplines,” he noted, “we can save over a million lives each year.”

On March 23, Global Sepsis Alliance President, Prof. Niranjan Kissoon, will deliver a featured lecture at the Critical Care Congress 2026, hosted by the Society of Critical Care Medicine in Chicago.

In this important session titled “Making Sepsis the Next Success Story in Global Health”, Prof. Kissoon will explore the global epidemiology of sepsis, highlighting its disproportionate burden across different regions and populations. The lecture will place particular emphasis on the impact of poverty and social determinants of health, which continue to drive inequities in sepsis outcomes worldwide.

Building on progress achieved over the past decade and on the 2030 Global Agenda for Sepsis, Prof. Kissoon will outline how coordinated global action has led to sepsis recognition and care improvements. The session will also examine ongoing international efforts to position sepsis as the next major success story in global health.

Taking place from 22–24 March 2026, the Critical Care Congress brings together thousands of healthcare professionals to share the latest advances in critical care medicine and improve patient outcomes globally.