Niranjan ‘Tex’ Kissoon, President of the Global Sepsis Alliance, announces the date and theme of the next World Sepsis Congress Spotlight.

On Tuesday, April 23, 2024, the GSA and the Physician-Patient Alliance for Health & Safety (PPAHS) will host the 2024 WSC Spotlight, titled “Unmet Need in Sepsis Diagnosis and Therapy”.

“We are delighted to welcome thousands of colleagues from around the world to another unique opportunity to explore and discuss the latest trends and developments in sepsis practice, research, and innovations.”

— Niranjan ‘Tex’ Kissoon, President

Dr. Niranjan ‘Tex’ Kissoon

As always, the 2024 WSC Spotlight will be free of charge and completely virtual, enabling broad participation from all parts of the world. For years, the WSCs have engaged between 8,000 and 20,000 scholars and practitioners from more than 180 countries.

Over one day and 9 highly relevant sessions, over 40 internationally renowned speakers, panelists, and moderators will address the role of AI, predictive modeling in sepsis, the need for early diagnosis and treatment of sepsis in surgical patients, the role of biomarkers, personalized approaches to sepsis management, how hypervolemia increases the mortality risk in sepsis, community programs to prevent and diagnose sepsis, and much more.

Whatever topic and speaker is most relevant to you, the Program Chairs Louise Thwaites, Board Member of the GSA and APSA, and Michael Wong, Founder and Executive Director of PPAHS, are excited to welcome you on April 23.

Dr. Louise Thwaites

Michael Wong

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Just as with our previous World Sepsis Congresses in 2016, 2018, 2021, and 2023, and WSC Spotlights in 2017, 2020, and 2022, this free online congress brings together highly ranked representatives of international and national healthcare authorities, non-governmental organizations, policymakers, patients, patient advocacy groups, clinical scientists, researchers, and pioneers in healthcare improvement.

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We will share more details on the program, speakers, and exact times later this month – stay tuned.

Dr. Mariam Jashi, CEO of the Global Sepsis Alliance, addressed the 154th Session of the WHO Executive Board to prioritize sepsis in the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Agenda as well as the new draft global action plan for infection prevention and control (IPC).

For the advancement of the UHC Agenda, Dr. Jashi called the World Health Organization and Member States to urgently prioritize enforcement of the 2017 World Health Assembly Resolution on Sepsis (WHA70.7).

GSA’s CEO reiterated that “We cannot achieve the health-related Sustainable Development Goals and Universal Health Coverage targets without positioning sepsis in the mainstream of the global health architecture. Every year, this medical emergency affects 48 million people, is associated with 1 in every 5 deaths, and yet receives disproportionally low attention.”

In her second statement, Dr. Jashi commended the draft global action plan for IPC for its comprehensive approach but expressed concern that the document does not address evidence-based policies and programs for sepsis, as the final common pathway to death for many infectious diseases.

She reminded the members of the WHO Executive Board and the EB154 Delegates that every year, sepsis claims the lives of 11 million children, women, and men and that this immense human suffering is mostly preventable through IPC measures.

Finally, Dr. Jashi noted that less than 10% of the UN Member States have enforced the historic 70.7 Resolution of the World Health Assembly and recommended that the global action plan for IPC integrates recommendations and indicators for monitoring the implementation of the 2017 Sepsis Resolution.

Dr. Jashi participated at the WHO Executive Committee Meeting as the Secretary General of the Medical Women’s International Association (MWIA), a Non-State Actor in official relations with WHO and one of the key partners of the Global Sepsis Alliance. GSA therefore extends gratitude to MWIA for this opportunity and positioning the cause of sepsis on the agenda of the WHO EB154.

Please see the full recordings of the 2 statements delivered by Dr. Jashi at the WHO Executive Board meeting in Geneva on January 24, 2024, above and below.

In December, Maha Aljuaid – a long-time Board Member of the Global Sepsis Alliance – was honored with The Golden Woman Award, achieving Platinum Level recognition as the most inspiring woman in healthcare. This international award, presented by GOLDEN TREE, recognizes outstanding female achievement.

The award, based on nomination points, has four levels:

• Gold: 60 to 70 points

• Diamond: 71 to 80 points

• Platinum: 81 to 90 points

• Titanium: Over 91 points

Maha's nomination, in her case by a colleague, was subjected to a rigorous evaluation process by a panel of judges. This included a thorough analysis of her accomplishments, her impact on the healthcare industry, and the lasting impact of her work.

This award is a recognition of seventeen years of outstanding performance in clinical, academic, and leadership as well as a recognition of Maha's role in the global advocacy of sepsis.  

The Golden Woman Award not only recognizes outstanding women but also aims to inspire future generations of female achievers. Maha’s Platinum Level achievement underscores her commitment to excellence in healthcare and sets a standard for others in the industry.

On behalf of the whole team here at the Global Sepsis Alliance, we congratulate Maha on this amazing achievement and are honored to continue to work with her.

At the 2024 Critical Care Congress in Phoenix, Arizona, USA – hosted by the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) – the manuscript ‘International Consensus Criteria for Pediatric Sepsis and Septic Shock’ was presented. It was subsequently published in JAMA (free, open access).

The manuscript defines globally applicable new criteria for pediatric sepsis and septic shock, answering the question of how children with suspected infection at higher risk of mortality, indicative of sepsis, should be identified.

Sepsis remains a global health crisis, with at least 47 million cases every year and at least 11 million deaths – one death every 2.8 seconds. Among them are a disproportionately high number of children in poor areas – more than 40% of all cases are occurring in children under 5.

This post will be updated once more information becomes available.

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Disclosures:

• Luregn Schlapbach, the main author of the manuscript and pictured above, was previously a member of the Board of the Global Sepsis Alliance and serves on the Steering Committee of the European Sepsis Alliance

• Daniela de Souza, a co-author of the manuscript, is a current member of the Board of the GSA

• Niranjan ‘Tex’ Kisson, a co-author of the manuscript, is currently the President of the GSA

• SCCM is a member organization of the GSA

In a landmark meeting held on December 15, 2023, at the Africa CDC headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, representatives from the African Sepsis Alliance (ASA), the Sub-Saharan African ConsorTium for the Advancement of Innovative Research and Care in Sepsis (STAIRS), and the Africa CDC convened to address the pressing issue of sepsis on the continent.

The meeting, attended by ASA Chair, Dr. Emmanuel Nsutebu, and Dr. Shevin Jacob representing both ASA and STAIRS, emphasized the need for urgent action against sepsis in Africa.

Participants recognized that Africa bears the highest burden of sepsis globally. Despite a World Health Assembly (WHA) resolution in 2017, minimal action has been taken to improve the prevention, recognition, and management of sepsis on a large scale, in stark contrast to efforts in Europe and North America.

Highlighting the crucial role of accurate data, the meeting underscored that current registries, such as DHIS2, do not systematically capture sepsis cases. Initiatives like the African Research Collaboration on Sepsis (ARCS) and STAIRS are working to address this knowledge gap.

The need for the active involvement of Ministers of Health, supported by Africa CDC, was emphasized. Suggestions included incorporating sepsis discussions into existing meetings or convening an extraordinary session during the International Conference on Public Health in Africa (CPHIA).

The participants stressed the need to engage WHO AFRO, leveraging the 2017 WHA resolution on sepsis, and recognizing the pivotal role the organization plays.

Priority Action Points

Agreed action points included declaring sepsis a regional priority, developing national action plans, generating data and research evidence from Africa, including sepsis as an indicator for the quality of care, and seconding someone from ASA to work alongside Africa CDC.

Agreed Action Plan

Acknowledging the urgency of the situation, the stakeholders formulated a concrete action plan:

• Update the new Africa CDC Director-General about discussions and collaboration agreements by January 2024.

• Identify Africa CDC focal points/champions and share contacts by January 2024.

• Finalize and co-publish a draft policy brief on sepsis by January 2024.

• Organize a joint meeting with WHO AFRO by January 2024.

• Develop a corporate agreement between GSA/ASA and Africa CDC by March 2024.

• Work with regional directors of public health institutes to organize a high-level sepsis meeting at the international CPHIA in Rabat in 2024 by June 2024.

• Work on the secondment from ASA to Africa CDC after the corporate agreement and explore potential funding sources by June 2024.

With these action points in place, the participants collectively declared, "Enough of action plans, it's time for action," emphasizing the imperative for swift and meaningful progress in the fight against sepsis in Africa.

Ilse Malfait’s story is one of incredible human strengths, resilience, and perseverance. In May 2020, Ilse's life took an unexpected turn when she discovered a lump in her right breast. The initial plan involved chemotherapy, breast-conserving surgery, and radiation to combat the aggressive tumor. However, fate had a different agenda. "Four days after my first chemo treatment, severe stomach pain gripped me at night, leading to a rush to the hospital," Ilse recounts.

Her medical journey had unforeseen complications. "A few months earlier, I faced intestinal problems, and now it turned out I had an intestinal perforation. The emergency operation went well, but what followed was beyond anyone's expectations," she shares.  The evening after the intestinal operation, Ilse had so much stomach pain that she thought she was going to die. Increasing the pain medication did not help. Breathing problems, nausea, very low blood pressure, an increased heart rate, fever, and fainting: her condition deteriorated so much that she ended up in intensive care.

Ilse encountered septic shock, a diagnosis that surfaced only thirty hours after the first symptoms, bringing significant consequences. Originally slated for a week, her hospital stay stretched into a staggering 487 days, encompassing intensive care, medical oncology, and a year in the rehabilitation center. "I don't remember anything for the five or six weeks after the operation; I was in a coma," Ilse reflects. Transported to a university hospital in Ghent, her survival chances appeared slim. However, the dedication of the intensive care team saved her life. Unfortunately, the aftermath of sepsis and the medication led to insufficient blood flow, resulting in the amputation of her fingers and lower legs.

The initial four months post-sepsis are defined by Ilse as sheer survival. She faced excruciating pain, compounded by the inability to receive necessary breast cancer treatment due to her weakened heart. The sepsis forced a change in plans – chemotherapy was halted, and a breast-conserving procedure became impossible, ultimately leading to a complete mastectomy. A breathing tube deprived her of speech, food, and drink. The removal of the tube marked a turning point, allowing Ilse to reconnect with her family, express gratitude to the medical team, and savor the simple joys of conversation and meals.

The path to recovery was daunting, with intensive rehabilitation paving the way for Ilse to walk again with prostheses. The transition from a wheelchair to walking was a monumental feat, marked by challenges such as pain and difficulty reaching household items.

As Ilse's range expanded gradually, she faced the delicate balance of not overexerting herself, as stepping caused wounds on the stumps of her legs. Phantom pain in her legs, waking her up at 4 am every night, adds to the ongoing challenges. The struggle continues, but Ilse remains determined to push through. Ilse's cancer check-ups since then have been positive, and she has been declared cancer-free. However, lingering uncertainties persist due to the premature cessation of her chemotherapy.

Ilse Malfait at the Central World Sepsis Day Event in Berlin, 12 September 2023.

On 12 September 2023, Ilse spoke at the Central World Sepsis Day Event in Berlin, where she told her story to an international audience and called the Belgian government to action.

In November 2023, Ilse was featured in the documentary “Kwaad bloed” (Bad Blood) broadcasted by Belgian TV channel VRT. This documentary brought sepsis to the attention of the wider public and triggered a political debate, leading Belgian Minister for Health Frank Vandenbroucke to commission a report from Prof. Erika Vlieghe for a National Plan on Sepsis.

“Kwad bloed”, Pano, VRT.

This was a major success as only a few countries worldwide have implemented the World Health Assembly Resolution 70.7 on Sepsis, urging UN member states to integrate sepsis into their national health systems.

Ilse encapsulated her journey also in the book ‘Elk uur telt'‘ (Every Hour Counts), emphasizing the crucial need for swift intervention in septic shock. 

Now, Ilse actively contributes to the cause by co-founding the non-profit organization SEPSIBEL, uniting sepsis survivors like Michael Clarke, whose story was already featured on our website. Their mission involves establishing a National Sepsis Plan with guidelines for early diagnosis and treatment. Ilse, along with the medical council, including Professor Erika Vlieghe and Professor Jan De Waele, President-Elect of the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine (ESICM), and collaborating organizations, endeavors to raise awareness among healthcare professionals and the general population about the symptoms and dangers of sepsis.

GSA founder Prof. Konrad Reinhart and GSA CEO Mariam Jashi with Ilse Malfait in Berlin, 12 September 2023.

Physically and mentally tired after three challenging years, Ilse remains resilient, driven by the urgency to implement the sepsis plan in Belgium. Her advocacy seeks to empower not only medical professionals but also the public, ensuring that the devastating impact of sepsis is met with prompt and informed responses.

The Global Sepsis Alliance is proud of the fight and the incredible achievements of Ilse Malfait. She is a true hero who can inspire millions of survivors and families affected by sepsis worldwide!

The GSA stands ready to continuously support Ilse’s advocacy efforts and provide any necessary assistance to Belgian colleagues as they embark on developing the National Sepsis Plan.

Greetings from the entire Team at the Global Sepsis Alliance! As we step into 2024, we extend our warmest wishes for a happy New Year filled with joy, success, and, most importantly, health for you and your loved ones.

We look forward to even closer cooperation with all members and partner organizations of the GSA and making 2024 a truly historic year for a reinvigorated global fight against sepsis.

We are excited to inform you that we have already updated all our toolkits for 2024, covering a diverse range of materials from event resources to engaging infographics, fact sheets, posters, and more. Our commitment is to provide valuable resources that are not only essential but also easily accessible to our global audience and stakeholders.

All our resources remain freely available and accessible in multiple languages, ensuring that important information can reach diverse audiences around the world. If you haven't explored them recently, we encourage you to take a look – there's a wealth of resources available, and we continue to add more materials and languages regularly.

As you may know, some of our resources, such as our Pocket Cards or the Life After Sepsis Brochure, can be ordered as professionally printed versions through our WSD Online Shop, with international shipping. The GSA Team is ready to provide any needed assistance in the process.

Pocket Cards for Medical Professionals, 10 Pack

€5.00

WSD Life After Sepsis Brochure, 5 Pack

€11.00

Pocket Cards for the General Public, 10 Pack

€6.00

In 2024, our relentless advocacy for prioritizing sepsis as a major global health priority will continue, building upon the significant milestones achieved in 2023, including the Berlin Declaration and the high-level side events on sepsis convened for the first time on the margins of the UN General Assembly and the World Health Summit.

For 2024, building on our previous work and achievements, we are prioritizing the development and launch of the renewed Global Agenda for Sepsis, which will define our common roadmap and the multi-year strategy for how to reduce substantially the immense human suffering and economic burden from sepsis.

Currently, we're working on the next World Sepsis Congress Spotlight, scheduled for April 2024. So, stay tuned for more information.

You can also count on the 2024 GSA Awards, along with our ongoing commitment to translating more materials into more languages, in addition to creating entirely new materials and educational resources. We look forward to potential face-to-face meetings at our WSD Supporter Meetings and have exciting events planned with our Regional Sepsis Alliances.

As tradition holds, our efforts will peak on World Sepsis Day on September 13, and we hope to have your active participation. We wish you a safe and prosperous start to 2024. Together, let's make 2024 a year of increased awareness, collaboration, and positive impact. Download, share, and be part of our collective effort to make valuable information accessible to all. Here's to a wonderful year ahead!

It's hard to believe the year is drawing to a close once again, isn’t it? Time seems to have flown by. The perfect time to express our heartfelt gratitude from the entire team for your unwavering support of the Global Sepsis Alliance, World Sepsis Day, and the worldwide battle against sepsis throughout the year. Your support is truly invaluable to us. We're pleased to report that it's been a successful year for sepsis awareness worldwide. Below, we've provided a summary of our 2023 journey and a glimpse into what lies ahead in 2024…

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A Look Back on 2023

January / February / March

The year started with updated toolkits for 2023, as almost every year does. Shortly thereafter, we took the wraps off the 4th World Sepsis Congress, aptly titled ‘One Global Health Threat: Sepsis, Pandemics, and Antimicrobial Resistance’. In March, we translated our ‘What Is Sepsis?’-Video into Korean (it’s also available in English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Italian, Turkish, German, Arabic, and Russian (YouTube links)) and honored the unsung women leading the fight against sepsis on International Women’s Day. Towards the end of March, our friends from the European Sepsis Alliance hosted their 6th Annual Meeting live from Brussels.

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April

In April, all eyes turned to the 4th World Sepsis Congress – One Global Health Threat: Sepsis, Pandemics, and Antimicrobial Resistance. Over two days and 16 highly relevant and diverse sessions, more than 85 speakers from more than 35 countries presented on all aspects of sepsis, including the link to pandemics and AMR, the role of AI, ML, big data, patient safety, the impact of policy, novel trial design, the latest research, and much more.

The congress was held entirely online and participation was free of charge. The talks are still available on YouTube and as a podcast on Apple Podcasts – just search for ‘World Sepsis Congress’ in your favorite podcast player. Maybe you’ll make time to catch up on a talk or two during the holidays?

The congress itself was a huge success – more than 15,400 people from 187 countries signed up to participate, 61% from low- and middle-income countries. The full report is available here, including a ton of interesting numbers and feedback from attendees.

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May

May was kicked off by World Hand Hygiene Day on May 5 – clean healthcare is among the most urgent challenges identified by the United Nations to be addressed by the global community in the next 10 years and is highly relevant in meeting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as well as fighting infections, sepsis, and, most prominently in the last couple of years, COVID-19.

We also started to release the sessions from the 4th WSC – as mentioned above, they are still available on YouTube and as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, if you aren’t caught up yet.

Later in May, we shared Marianne’s sepsis story, a Superwoman who is now engaged in raising awareness about sepsis in Spain.

May concluded with us sharing fresh ideas, inspiration, and resources for hosting an amazing World Sepsis Day event and our virtual World Sepsis Day Supporter Meeting, a forum that will for sure return in 2024.

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June / July / August

In June, we published the aforementioned 4th WSC Report, announced CME credits for said congress, and shared Tess’s sepsis story. Tess was only 18 when she almost lost her life to a so-called “lung infection”…

In July, we announced this year’s WSD Event, titled 'The Enactment of the WHO Sepsis on the National and International Level' and held in Berlin in collaboration with the ‘Germany Recognizes Sepsis’-coalition, the European Sepsis Alliance, and the Sepsis Stiftung.

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September

Finally, September. Finally, World Sepsis Day again. Across the globe, hundreds of events were organized to amplify awareness for sepsis, and we extend our gratitude to everyone who contributed. The 2023 WSD Event Poster summarizes these impactful events, and you can request complimentary printed copies to further support the cause and as a token of our appreciation for your work.

Shortly before WSD, on September 12, we convened in Berlin for ‘The Enactment of the WHO Sepsis Resolution on the National and International Level’ – a full-day hybrid event featuring intriguing speakers and panels, organized jointly with the Sepsis-Stiftung. You can recap the event here or on YouTube.

Leading up to the event, we published Dr. Tedros's welcome address for the event, as well as the Berlin Declaration. The Berlin Declaration calls for the urgent enforcement of the WHA Resolution on Sepsis and reinvigorated global action on sepsis and has been signed by over 75 organizations from all over the world.

On September 14, we announced that Dr. Mariam Jashi will join the GSA as its designated CEO, an important step to further cement our mission to provide global leadership to reduce the worldwide burden of sepsis.

Shortly after, the spotlight turned to sepsis once more with World Patient Safety Day on September 17, underscoring the significance of sepsis as healthcare-acquired infections account for approximately 20% of sepsis cases worldwide.

On September 21, we flew to New York for the 78th United Nations General Assembly – precisely, to host the first-ever High-Level Side Event on Sepsis, titled ‘Synergizing Global Actions for Sepsis, AMR, and PPPR for Attaining Health Related SDGs’. Serving as a platform for fostering collaboration and innovation in the fight against sepsis and antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and promoting public-private partnerships for health-related SDGs, this pivotal gathering was co-hosted by the Clinton Health Access Initiative, the Global Antibiotic Research & Development Partnership, the Global Sepsis Alliance, the Medical Women’s International Association, the Sepsis Stiftung, UNITE, and the Virchow Foundation for Global Health. The event was live-streamed and if you haven’t yet, you can catch up here or on YouTube.

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October / November / December

In October, we convened a High-Level Luncheon on Sepsis on the Margins of the 2023 World Health Summit, bringing together senior officials from Parliaments, Governments, UN agencies, The G20 & G7 Health and Development Partnership, civil society, the private sector, and academia. Video recaps of selected talks are available here.

In November, we encouraged you to participate in Movember, raising awareness for men’s health, especially focused on mental health, suicide prevention, as well as prostate and testicular cancer. Later in the month, we celebrated World Prematurity Day 2023 and the 2nd Long COVID Congress in Jena.

On November 27, we brought you the free live stream of ‘Lessons From the COVID-19 Pandemic’, featuring Dr. Uzma Syed, and Prof. Konrad Reinhart, as well as a panel discussion on ‘Key Lessons on Pandemic Preparedness and Response to Non-Covid Sepsis’ with inspiring thought leaders in global health, focusing on the interrelated topics of pandemics, covid, and sepsis.

In December, we promoted the ‘Sepsis Alarm Boek’ by our friends in the Netherlands, and finally completed the 2023 WSD Event Poster, which you can download or order free printed copies of here.

Throughout the year, we also held regular meetings with members, sponsors, partners such as the WHO, our Board, and more, discussing how to accelerate the global fight against sepsis to an even faster speed – stay tuned!

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Looking Ahead to 2024

In 2024, our relentless advocacy for prioritizing sepsis as a major global health priority will continue, building upon the significant milestones achieved in 2023. To support our endeavors, we're planning to expand our team as well.

Currently, we're diligently working on the next World Sepsis Congress Spotlight, scheduled for April 2024. Stay tuned for more…

You can also count on the 2024 GSA Awards, along with our ongoing commitment to translating more materials into more languages, in addition to creating entirely new materials and educational resources. We look forward to potential face-to-face meetings at our WSD Supporter Meetings and have exciting events planned with our Regional Sepsis Alliances.

As tradition holds, our efforts will culminate on World Sepsis Day on September 13, and we hope to have your active participation. We wish you a safe and prosperous start to 2024.

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