Sepsis is the cause of 1 in 5 deaths worldwide according to the World Health Organization’s first global report on sepsis, published in September 2020. Sepsis occurs in response to an infection. If sepsis is left untreated it can result in septic shock, multiple organ failure and death. Patients who are very ill with COVID-19 are at higher risk of developing and dying from sepsis.

Sadly, sepsis disproportionately affects venerable populations: newborns, pregnant women, and people living in low-income settings. However, sepsis is an equal opportunity killer and can strike anyone regardless of age, race, or income. Sepsis can be treated with antibiotics and IV fluids.

The report states that “obstetric infections, including complications following abortion or infections following cesarean section, are the third most common cause of maternal mortality. Globally, it is estimated that for every 1,000 women giving birth, 11 women experience infection-related severe organ dysfunction or death.”

We are not waiting for a cure for sepsis: early diagnosis, appropriate treatment, and access to safe medicines will improve the burden of serious illness and deaths from sepsis worldwide. In America, more than 1.5 people will develop sepsis annually and at least 270,000 of them will die.

Ask your doctor to Rule out Sepsis– and remember if you detect even a few of these symptoms of sepsis seek medical treatment.

• Rapid breathing and fast heartbeat
• Pale or mottled skin
• Confusion or sleepiness
• Fever and chills
• Feeling the sickest you’ve ever felt
• Extreme pain