WHO calls for global action on sepsis to reduce the burden of this silent killer

Ahead of World Sepsis Day on September 13, the World Health Organization’s first global report on sepsis finds that knowledge gaps are hampering efforts to tackle the millions of deaths and disabilities due to sepsis, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.

Sepsis kills an estimated 11 million people each year and disables millions more.

With most sepsis studies conducted in hospitals and intensive care units in high-income countries, there is little evidence from the rest of the world. Different definitions of sepsis, diagnostic criteria and hospital discharge coding are also making it difficult to develop a clear understanding of the true global burden of sepsis.

The WHO is calling on the global community to help address these gaps through improved study design and data collection and advocating for greater research funding as well as better surveillance systems, diagnostic tools and education for health workers and communities.

Read the WHO’s full media release here.