Today, September 13, marks World Sepsis Day, an observance devoted to raising awareness about sepsis, a severe medical condition in which the body’s response to infection causes damage to its own tissues and organs. Experts caution that early recognition and prompt treatment are critical for improving survival. [1][2]
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), about 49 million people develop sepsis annually worldwide, and approximately 11 million of those cases result in death. [1][3] Sepsis often arises from otherwise common infections, in the respiratory tract, urinary tract, gastrointestinal system, or from wounds and skin infections. [1] Infections acquired in healthcare facilities also contribute significantly to sepsis incidence. [3]
Sepsis can affect anyone, but certain groups face much greater risk. WHO lists the following as particularly vulnerable:
Infants under 1 year old and older adults over 60 years [1]
People with underlying chronic conditions, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, immunocompromised states, or those who have lost spleen function [1]
Pregnant women (maternal sepsis) and newborns (neonatal sepsis) [3]
In addition, WHO identifies tobacco use and high blood pressure among the global risk factors that increase a person's susceptibility to severe disease and worse outcomes from infections that can lead to sepsis. [4]
Sepsis is a medical emergency. The WHO and World Sepsis Day organisation list several signs that may indicate sepsis, especially in the setting of infection:
Fever, or alternately low temperature; chills and extreme shivering
Rapid breathing and heart rate
Confusion or altered mental status; slurred speech
Reduced urine output
Shortness of breath
Skin mottling or discoloration; pale or cold extremities
Severe body pain or discomfort [1][5]
If someone with an infection or after surgery, wound, or serious illness shows any of these signs, medical attention should be sought immediately. [1]
Sepsis progresses quickly. Delayed treatment can lead to:
Low blood pressure and shock
Multiple organ failure (e.g., kidneys, lungs, heart)
Increased mortality rates
WHO guidance recommends that treatment, including the administration of appropriate antibiotics and supportive care (such as fluid resuscitation), begin as soon as sepsis is suspected. [3]
The 2025 World Sepsis Day theme is “5 Facts, 5 Actions”, highlighting the urgent need for awareness and early response. It encourages people to know five key facts about sepsis and take five simple actions to save lives.
In India, sepsis remains a major public health concern. Research published in the Indian Journal of Critical Care Medicine estimates that sepsis contributes to 30–35% of ICU admissions in the country, with mortality rates ranging from 25% to 40% depending on severity. [6] Maternal and neonatal sepsis are significant challenges, with WHO reporting that sepsis is among the leading causes of maternal deaths in South Asia. [3] The Indian Society of Critical Care Medicine (ISCCM) has initiated awareness campaigns and training programs to improve public education.
MedBound Times spoke with Dr. Henna Paulson, MBBS, pursuing MD in Emergency Medicine at Amrita School of Medicine, Kochi, Kerala, India, who explained that sepsis care follows the Surviving Sepsis Campaign Guidelines by the Society of Critical Care Medicine.
The “sepsis bundle” includes:
Measuring serum lactate levels to check tissue oxygen supply.
Taking blood cultures before antibiotics for accurate diagnosis.
Starting broad-spectrum IV antibiotics without delay.
Giving rapid IV fluids to stabilize circulation.
Using vasopressors if blood pressure remains low after fluids.
She noted that early recognition and timely action are vital to improving survival in sepsis.
World Sepsis Day. “Sepsis – What Is Sepsis?” World Sepsis Day. Accessed September 13, 2025. https://www.worldsepsisday.org/sepsis.
World Health Organization. “Sepsis.” Accessed September 13, 2025. https://www.who.int/health-topics/sepsis.
World Sepsis Day. “The 2030 World Sepsis Declaration.” Accessed September 13, 2025. https://www.worldsepsisday.org/declaration.
World Health Organization. Global Health Risks: Mortality and Burden of Disease Attributable to Selected Major Risks. Geneva: WHO, 2009. https://iris.who.int/bitstream/handle/10665/44203/9789241563871_eng.pdf.
Presenting Symptoms in Sepsis: Is the Mnemonic … K. Wattanapaiboon et al., PMC, 2020. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7354908/?report=reader.
Divatia, J.V., et al. “Sepsis in India: Evidence, Gaps, and Way Forward.” Indian Journal of Critical Care Medicine 22, no. 9 (2018): 641–648. https://doi.org/10.4103/ijccm.IJCCM_290_18.
MSM