Marianne haverkamp and Duncan Brown, GSSFC Co-Chairs

The Global Sepsis Alliance is proud to announce the launch of the Global Sepsis Survivors and Families Committee (GSSFC), which will meet for the first time on 15 April 2025 at 14:00 CEST.

The GSSFC will serve as a dedicated platform for sepsis survivors and family members to connect, share experiences, and advocate for greater awareness and improved care. Building on the success of the European Sepsis Alliance’s Patient and Family Support Working Group, this new global committee will empower the survivor community to drive change, locally and internationally.

The 2030 Global Agenda for Sepsis suggests that awareness on sepsis and its sequelae should be improved among the public, media and policymakers through consistent advocacy, a simplified new narrative on sepsis, and the engagement of sepsis survivors and patient families.

The Committee will be co-chaired by Marianne Haverkamp, who also leads the European Sepsis Alliance’s Patient and Family Support Working Group, and Duncan Brown, father of Kuan Brown who passed away unexpectedly due to undiagnosed sepsis, both of whom bring poignant experiences and a strong commitment to advancing the cause.

Through its work, the GSSFC aims to:

• Amplify the voices of sepsis survivors and families in global advocacy, leveraging the GSA network and activities.

• Share successful stories, strategies, and tools for improving sepsis awareness, care and support.

• Raise awareness on life after sepsis, including the physical, cognitive, and psychological challenges survivors and caregivers face.

• Facilitate peer support and build a global survivor network.

• Develop multilingual advocacy resources and host regular webinars and workshops.

If you are a sepsis survivor or family member interested in joining the Committee and contributing to its work, please contact Simone Mancini, GSA Partnership Lead, at Simone.Mancini@global-sepsis-alliance.org.

Together, we can strengthen the global voice of those most affected by sepsis, and create lasting impact.

The 5th World Sepsis Congress is almost here – starting Tuesday, April 8 at 14:00h Central European Summer Time, free of charge and entirely online.

Participating in all 15 sessions of the 5th WSC is free and incredibly easy – just click on the button below and enter your email if you are registered already. If not, simply register for the congress here before joining the livestream.

Pro tip: If you can’t make it, just register anyway and we will send you the links to the recordings once available.

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ABOUT the 5th World Sepsis Congress

The Global Sepsis Alliance proudly presents the 5th World Sepsis Congress, a free, virtual event bringing together over 90 leading experts from around the world to discuss the latest in sepsis research, innovation, and policy.

The program features over 90 expert speakers, including leading clinicians, scientists, policymakers, and representatives from patient advocacy groups. Topics will range from the latest research on personalized medicine and innovative therapies to global strategies for infection prevention to sepsis care delivery, and how AI can be leveraged to diagnose sepsis early. Special attention will be given to the impact of climate change on infectious diseases, the rising threat of AMR, and how combating sepsis aligns with the SDGs’ commitment to health equity and universal access to care.

Additionally, the congress will feature two panel discussions, which will make patients' voices heard and showcase lessons from countries that are reducing sepsis mortality through system change.

Registrations for the 5th World Sepsis Congress remain open. Attendees can participate live on their internet-connected devices and access recordings on demand after the event.

Don't miss this opportunity to gain insights and knowledge from the world's leading sepsis experts. Register now and be part of this global effort to improve sepsis outcomes for patients everywhere. For more information on the program, speakers, and time zones, and to register for free, please visit worldsepsiscongress.org.

The 5th World Sepsis Congress is just 5 days away – taking place live, free of charge, and entirely online next Tuesday and Wednesday. If you haven’t yet, it’s not too late to register.

If you can’t make it live next week, just register anyway, and we’ll send you the link to the recordings afterward.

Under the theme Sepsis Research and Innovations, this free virtual event on April 8-9, 2025 will bring together thousands of participants from more than 180 countries to address one of our time's most pressing global health challenges.

Dr. Niranjan ‘Tex’ Kissoon

“This congress is an invitation for all to come together and reaffirm our commitment to end suffering and preventable deaths from sepsis, and to appreciate the progress being made by dedicated colleagues worldwide. Please join us in April 2025.”

— Dr. Niranjan 'Tex' Kissoon, President Global Sepsis Alliance

“We are excited to host a Congress that fosters collaboration and inspires innovation. The 5th World Sepsis Congress will empower us to collectively address the enormous global burden of sepsis and develop solutions that advance healthcare for all.”

— Dr. Mariam Jashi, CEO Global Sepsis Alliance

Dr. Mariam Jashi

The program features over 90 expert speakers, including leading clinicians, scientists, policymakers, and representatives from patient advocacy groups. Topics will range from the latest research on personalized medicine and innovative therapies to global strategies for infection prevention to sepsis care delivery, and how AI can be leveraged to diagnose sepsis early. Special attention will be given to the impact of climate change on infectious diseases, the rising threat of AMR, and how combating sepsis aligns with the SDGs’ commitment to health equity and universal access to care.

Additionally, the congress will feature two panel discussions, which will make patients' voices heard and showcase lessons from countries that are reducing sepsis mortality through system change.

Registrations for the 5th World Sepsis Congress remain open. Attendees can participate live on their internet-connected devices and access recordings on demand after the event.

Hon. Vytenis Andriukaitis

“By working together, we can save lives and prevent suffering caused by this devastating medical emergency”, said Vytenis Andriukaitis, MEP and ESA Patron, welcoming the Call to Action that the European Sepsis Alliance launched at its 8th Annual Meeting, hosted in the European Parliament on 19 March.

The event, taking place at the heart of European policymaking, marked a pivotal moment for sepsis advocacy in Europe. It provided a unique platform to unite healthcare professionals, policymakers, researchers, survivors, and advocacy leaders in their collective mission to improve sepsis care across the continent. As a starting point for enhanced advocacy efforts for sepsis in Europe, the meeting underscored the urgent need for coordinated action and reinforced the commitment to the 2030 Global Agenda for Sepsis.

Prof. Evangelos J. Giamarellos Bourboulis

Prof. Evangelos J. Giamarellos-Bourboulis, Chair of the European Sepsis Alliance, set the tone with a passionate keynote address. As he presented the recently published main outcomes of the European Sepsis Care Survey, he stressed the critical need for enhanced awareness and better management of sepsis within healthcare systems: “The majority of units [in Europe] do not have standardized screening; there is no standard operating procedure (SOP) for management of sepsis; 70% of the hospital have no training or quality improvement program; almost 90% of the labs have limited service just for blood cultures”.

Ricardo Baptista Leite

The call for improvement of sepsis standard of care in Europe was echoed by Prof. Konrad Reinhart, Founding President of the Global Sepsis Alliance, who urged stakeholders to move beyond fragmented efforts. “We need urgently to combine all these issues - sepsis, AMR, pandemic preparedness - in strategic holistic approaches”, he asserted, highlighting the need for integration of sepsis in health systems and for collaboration.

One of the most inspiring contributions came from Hon. Ricardo Baptista Leite, President of the UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health, who called for legislative backing to sustain progress. Pointing to the importance of embedding sepsis into policy frameworks, he exhorted the European policymakers of this mandate to take responsibility and action: "We cannot let this mandate end without a European Sepsis Plan with clear actions clear resources, clear metrics that we can measure in terms of results".

Dr. Mariam Jashi

Dr. Mariam Jashi, CEO of the Global Sepsis Alliance, laid out the potential of the 2030 Global Agenda for Sepsis, advocating for Europe to take a leading role. “By setting clear targets and benchmarks, Europe can demonstrate global leadership in combating sepsis”, she explained, echoing Hon. Baptista Leite in challenging policymakers to seize the opportunity.

Shahrzad Kiavash (left) and Marianne Haverkamp

The panel discussion moderated by Dr. Ron Daniels, CEO of the UK Sepsis Trust, offered a diverse range of perspectives, highlighting both personal and professional insights, converging on the importance of awareness, education, and patient involvement in the fight against sepsis. Survivor and triathlete Shahrzad Kiavash shared her story of suffering and resilience, calling for public awareness: “Survivors like me are living proof that better care saves lives”. Adding an essential perspective, Marianne Haverkamp, Co-Chair of the ESA Patient and Family Support WG and of the GSA Global Sepsis Survivor and Families Committee, shared her personal journey of overcoming sepsis and how living with the aftermath of sepsis is a constant challenge, also for families.

Prof. Djillali Annane

Prof. Djillali Annane’s opinion is that “if we failed to solve the issue of sepsis for so many decades, it is because we did not listen to patients and their families and the most important thing to win that battle is to know better that the enemy and to listen to those were exposed to it”.

Responding to the perspective of survivors, Prof. Maurizio Cecconi from Humanitas University and Past President of the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine (ESICM), stressed the importance of education at all levels, to improve early detection and treatment, echoed by Prof. Jan De Waele, current ESICM President, who reflected on the role of professional organizations in bringing awareness beyond the ICU, as sepsis happens mainly in the community and its effects affect people also after hospital discharge.

The importance of awareness and education was also reiterated by Dr. Nora Lüthi, Medical Programme Manager for the Sepsis Plan in Switzerland: “It was very clear that we had to prioritize sepsis awareness, education of the public and of healthcare workers, that we should promote research, and post sepsis support for survivors and family members, and then issue and develop standardized protocols for early detection and treatment.”

Very much appreciated was the attendance by remote of two key stakeholders which should have a key role in the near future when it comes to sepsis treatment and preparedness. Marco Cavaleri confirmed the commitment of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) to accelerating access to innovative treatments and underscored the need for regulatory frameworks that support innovation. Meanwhile, Raquel Rodríguez Alonso from the Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA) of the European Commission, recognized the importance of sepsis as a critical concern, and presented the work of HERA in making sure that medical countermeasures are in place across European countries, also to prevent and treat infections.

Dr. Ron Daniels, Prof. Jan De Waele, Prof. Antonio Artigas, Prof. Maurizio Cecconi

Prof. Antonio Artigas, Professor of Intensive Care Medicine at the Autonomous University of Barcelona, while presenting the progress made in sepsis management in Catalunya, thanks to a regional action plan, he also elaborated on the clinical challenges associated with sepsis diagnosis and treatment. He noted that the complexity of sepsis requires a multifaceted approach, integrating early diagnosis, advanced treatment options, and continuous education for healthcare professionals.

The meeting concluded with a strong call for continued collaboration and political will. The European Sepsis Alliance, together with the stakeholders who joined the event, will continue engaging with policy makers, further sharing the Call to Action “ Stop Sepsis, the leading cause of preventable deaths and disability in Europe”, and advocating for a European and National Sepsis Plans, with awareness, education, early detection, research and patient support at their core.

Madrid, March 12, 2024 – The Sepsis Code Foundation (Fundación Código Sepsis - Spain) has awarded its Sepsis Code Award 2025 to Marianne Haverkamp in recognition of her dedication to the fight against sepsis and her tireless efforts to improve awareness, diagnosis, and treatment of this serious disease.

The award ceremony took place on March 12 at the La Princesa University Hospital in Madrid, as part of the 8th Multidisciplinary and International Sepsis Code Meeting. This international scientific event focuses on updating and critically analyzing strategies for the diagnosis and management of sepsis. Bringing together relevant experts from different specialties, this meeting seeks to promote the implementation of protocols based on the best available evidence.

A Story of Resilience and Commitment

After surviving a severe case of sepsis, Marianne Haverkamp (Co-chair of the Patients & Family workgroups of GSA and ESA) turned her personal experience into a mission to save lives. She founded Sepsisinfo.es, a pioneering initiative in Spain dedicated to informing and supporting both patients and healthcare professionals in the detection and treatment of sepsis. Through educational campaigns, the development of informational materials, and collaboration with medical institutions, she has made a significant impact on the healthcare community.

Her impact has reached far beyond Spain. Her participation in international forums has been instrumental in strengthening medical protocols and raising global awareness of the importance of early intervention for this life-threatening disease, which affects millions of people every year.

A Recognition Backed by Experts

The Sepsis Code Award jury consisted of renowned experts in the field, including Dr. Marcio Borges, Dr. José Barberán, Dr. Ricard Ferrer, Dr. Miguel Salavert, Dr. Pablo Vidal, and Dr. Rafael Zaragoza, all trustees of the Sepsis Code Foundation.

Since its creation in 2012, the Sepsis Code Foundation has worked to reduce sepsis-related mortality in Spain, improve treatment approaches, and raise awareness about the importance of early detection.

With this award, the foundation honors Marianne Haverkamp’s outstanding efforts, whose dedication has been instrumental in advancing the fight against sepsis and saving countless lives. The other winners of this year's award were the company Farmaindustria and Research and Development Group on Infection and Sepsis (GIS-ID)

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From January 13-16, 2025, the Sub-Saharan African ConsorTium for the Advancement of Innovative Research and Care in Sepsis (STAIRS) held its 2nd Annual Consortium Meeting (ACM) in Kumasi, Ghana, hosted by the STAIRS-Ghana team led by Dr John Adabie Appiah at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH). The event brought together leading researchers, clinicians, policymakers, and stakeholders dedicated to improving sepsis outcomes across sub-Saharan Africa. Hosted at the Golden Bean Hotel, the meeting provided a platform for insightful discussions, research updates, and strategic planning for the consortium’s ongoing efforts.­­­­­

About STAIRS

STAIRS is one of 6 collaborative networks funded for 5 years by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) under its Research Networks for Health Innovations in Sub-Saharan Africa (RHISSA) funding scheme. STAIRS comprises ten partners from seven countries across sub-Saharan Africa (Sierra Leone, Ghana, Nigeria, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, Ethiopia and Mozambique) and 2 German universities (Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin and Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf). By leveraging existing networks and forging new partnerships, STAIRS addresses critical gaps in sepsis epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment in resource-constrained settings of sub-Saharan Africa.

Meeting Highlights

The ACM commenced with a welcome reception at Veronique Heights Hotel on 12 January, where participants networked and set the stage for productive engagements.

The formal sessions began on 13 January with welcoming addresses from key institutional leaders, including:

• Dr Kwadwo Sarbeng (Medical Director, KATH)

• Dr Yaw Larbi (Deputy Medical Director, KATH)

• Dr Evans Ansu Yeboah (Deputy Director of Research & Development, KATH)

• Dr Fred Adomako Boateng (Ashanti Regional Director, Ghana Health Service)

• Prof Christian Agyare (Provost, College of Health Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

The meeting was then officially opened with a STAIRS Director’s Address delivered by Dr Nathan Kenya-Mugisha (Executive Director, Walimu), and followed by two keynote speakers – Prof Richard Odame Philips (Scientific Director, Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine), who shared insights on pressing global health challenges and innovations in antimicrobial resistance and sepsis management, and Prof. Niranjan "Tex" Kissoon (President, Global Sepsis Alliance), who delivered a keynote address on advancements in sepsis care and global strategies for reducing mortality.

Participants engaged in panel discussions, interactive Q&A sessions, and collaborative workshops, fostering cross-disciplinary exchange and strengthening international partnerships to advance activities with STAIRS 4 work packages, focused on:

• Research: Advancing clinical trials, epidemiological studies, and innovative diagnostics for sepsis management.

• Capacity Building: Strengthening research and clinical capacity through training, mentorship, and infrastructure development.

• Networking: Enhancing collaboration between African and international partners to promote knowledge sharing and resource mobilization.

• Policy Exchange & Research Transfer: Translating scientific findings into policy recommendations and improving sepsis care implementation across healthcare systems.

A highlight of the meeting was a session comprising research-in-progress presentations by eight STAIRS Scholars who have commenced PhD programmes at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (Liverpool), Charité – Universitätsmedizin (Berlin), Heinrich Heine University (Düsseldorf) and Ludwig Maximilian University (Munich).

The last day of the meeting included members of the African Research Collaboration on Sepsis (ARCS) and was opened by Dr Shevin Jacob (Chief Scientific Officer, STAIRS; Director, ARCS) who provided an overview of the growing network of sepsis researchers across sub-Saharan Africa. ARCS members delivered presentations on research findings from studies conducted across the sub-Saharan African network over the past 5 years, and STAIRS collaborators, African Institute for Development Policy (AFIDEP) and Uganda National Health Consumers’ Organisation (UNHCO), co-chaired sessions focused on stakeholder engagement and dissemination strategies. As part of this day, a solemn tribute to Dr Emmanuel Nsutebu (late President, African Sepsis Alliance) was delivered by Prof Kissoon; Dr Janet Diaz (Headquarters, World Health Organization) delivered a keynote speech on the World Health Organization’s initiatives to address sepsis globally and within the African region.

Overall, 53 participants attended the ACM from 14 countries, including the 8 STAIRS partner countries, Canada, Kenya, Malawi, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and United Kingdom.

The European Sepsis Alliance is thrilled to welcome you to its 8th Annual Meeting – live from the European Parliament in Brussels, starting at 14:30h CET today, March 19, 2025.

The 8th Annual Meeting of the ESA takes place under the distinguished patronage of MEP, former Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, and ESA Patron, Vytenis Andriukaitis. This year's meeting promises to be a significant occasion for discussing the urgency to include sepsis policies within the broader EU health policy context.

Following the developments and successes in global sepsis advocacy, the objective of this year's event is to engage European policymakers and stakeholders in understanding the intersection of sepsis with existing health threats and frameworks, such as Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) and pandemic preparedness strategies, the agenda of the European Health Emergency Response Authority (HERA), health management in conflict zones, to name a few. The meeting will delve into how sepsis preparedness is vital to enhance the overall public health strategy of the EU. A new European Parliament and a newly appointed European Commission provide a unique context to create the synergies needed.

Participants will have the opportunity to share best practices, engage in collaborative discussions, and propose concrete solutions that can be implemented at both national and EU levels. Your insights and experiences are invaluable to developing a cohesive approach to policy integration.

The ESA invites all members and stakeholders to join this important gathering and contribute to shaping the future of sepsis policy in Europe. Your participation is essential in advancing the dialogue on sepsis within the European health policy framework.

At just under 3 years old, my son developed a croupy cough with no fever or other concerning symptoms, so we carried on as usual. On day 5 of the cough, his cough developed a strider quality so I took him to his PCP. At the time, his oxygen level was normal and his lung sounds were good except for the cough. He was started on steroids and sent home. 

The following day he had improvement in the strider but began running low grade intermittent fevers. He continued to eat, drink, pee, poop and appear as expected. When I woke the following day but later than Carl’s usual 6am wake up call, I ran into his room and found him lethargic, working hard to breathe and had very high fever.  

He’d never had a fever that high before, I medicated him and contacted his doctor. We both hoped his breathing effort and lethargy would improve with reducing his fever. When I listened to his lungs, they were clear but his oxygen was low. After his fever had reduced, there was no improvement with his breathing so we went to see his doctor. He was given some breathing treatment and blood test were done. After 2 breathing treatments, the lungs sounds became very concerning, his breathing did not improve and his blood work showed he had a bad infection. So we went to the ER.  

In the ER, Carl was diagnosed with RSV pneumonia and asthma. Before being moved to the regular hospital room on the standard paediatric ward, I requested for respiratory therapy and for someone to come and check on him again. He was put on high flow oxygen and moved to the paediatric intensive care unit. We spent 11 hours in the ER before he got there. 

On arrival in the ICU, he was immediatley put on a BiPAP which failed to help him breathe, so he was intubated, which also failed to improve his breathing. He was then put on an oscillator which also failed to improved his breathing. During the first 4 hours in the ICU, he was put on VV-ecmo. He continued to deteriorate cardiacly and was placed on VA-ecmo. He continued to deteriorate and was given an atrial septotomy with stent (a large hole was placed between the atria of the heart) to reduce the strain on the right side of the heart, a drain cannula (VA-V) was added and he was put on an adult ECMO pump as he had already maxed out the peds pump.  

He developed a disseminated intravascular crisis in which he lost all the blood parts. He received numerous transfusions of red blood cells, platelets, plasmas, and cryo. His INR peaked at 6.6, normal is 1.  

Along with DIC, he developed pulmonary edema, total opacities, complete biventricular failure (he had no heart beat or breath sounds) liver failure, ischemic bowel with multiple bleeds, kidney injury, and ischaemic injury to both legs.

After 14 hours, he was given a broad spectrum antibiotics and was later diagnosed with MRSA pneumonia. 

 2 weeks later his heart function resolved and we were able to stop the VA-ecmo. The following 4 weeks were on a VV-V ecmo. We had to place a trach and he was eventually able to wean off ecmo. 

We spent a total of 106 days in the cardiac ICU and after amputations and skin graft surgery we were able to go home. He was still trach/vent dependent,  required tube feeds and extensive wound care. He was also still on withdrawal medications from the sedation meds he had been on.  

He was able to wean off the trach and feeding tube (6 months for each) and he’s able to walk, run, climb and play with his peers today. 

We are blessed with an almost able-bodied little boy. He has issues with chronic wounds on his salvaged foot and stump and he’s had some bone infections and surgeries because of it. He also has permanent lung damage, but it only seems to be a problem when he's sick.

 The horrors of sepsis will plague me the rest of my life but I have some comfort knowing these are memories my son will have little of. Being so young had its blessings. 

I will also forever be humbled by the resilience of children. Never in my life have I seen such joy despite illness and loss.  

Hug your babies and be grateful for every day.

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The article above was written by Catherine Clark and is shared here with her explicit consent. The views in the article do not necessarily represent those of the Global Sepsis Alliance. They are not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. The whole team here at the Global Sepsis Alliance and World Sepsis Day wishes to thank her for sharing her son’s story and for fighting to raise awareness for sepsis.