Sepsis care: getting it right every time

Sepsis is a time critical condition, which can be life threatening. World Sepsis Day on 13 September, provides us with an opportunity to consider the impact of sepsis throughout the world.

In the UK, there are an estimated 150,000 cases of sepsis per year, resulting in 44,000 deaths. This equates to more deaths from bowel, breast and prostate cancer combined according to the Sepsis Trust, 2016.

This year two key events have shaped sepsis care in the UK and worldwide.

These are revised international consensus definitions for sepsis and septic shock, and the publication of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance on outlining the recognition, diagnosis and early management of sepsis.

Sepsis has always been a challenge for healthcare professionals. The term ‘sepsis’ was first introduced by Hippocrates (460-370BC) and is derived