On Wednesday the exterior of the Library of Birmingham will be lit up red in support of World Sepsis Day.

World Sepsis Day is an initiative by the Global Sepsis Alliance established in 2012. The GSA is a non-profit charity organization with the mission to provide global leadership to reduce the worldwide burden of sepsis. Every year on September 13th, countless events raising awareness of sepsis are organized all over the world. The events range from medical education, to information for lay people, sport activities, fundraising events like pink picnics, and much more.

World Sepsis Day is an opportunity for people worldwide to unite in the fight against sepsis. Sepsis accounts for at least 11 million deaths worldwide annually. Yet, depending on country and education, sepsis is known only to 7 – 50 % of the people. Likewise, it is poorly known that sepsis can be prevented by vaccination and clean care and that early recognition and treatment reduces sepsis mortality by 50 %. This lack of knowledge makes sepsis the number one preventable cause of death worldwide.

World Sepsis Day is a favorable moment to increase public awareness for this poorly acknowledged health care disaster, but also to show support and solidarity with the millions of people who lost their loved ones, or, as sepsis survivors, suffer from long-term consequences of sepsis. World Sepsis Day is a great opportunity to remind the public, media, national, and international healthcare authorities, healthcare providers, healthcare workers, policymakers, and the governments that there is an urgent need to increase and improve education.

Sepsis arises when the body’s response to an infection injures its own tissues and organs. It may lead to shock, multi-organ failure, and death – especially if not recognized early and treated promptly. Sepsis is the final common pathway to death from most infectious diseases worldwide, including viral infections such as SARS-CoV-2 / COVID-19.

For more information about the condition, visit the World Sepsis Day website.

Article posted 13 September 2023