Sepsis causes approximately between six and nine million deaths worldwide every year, most of which are preventable. Many surviving patients suffer from the consequences for the rest of their lives.

As part of World Sepsis Day 2018, Health Innovation Manchester’s Utilisation Management Team and Greater Manchester and Eastern Cheshire Patient Safety Collaborative (GMECPSC) joined together for an awareness raising session.

Held at Citylabs on Nelson Street, Manchester, the event offered attendees the chance to learn more about Sepsis, a potentially life-threatening condition, and how to protect people from its devastating effects.

Sepsis arises when the body’s response to an infection injures its own tissues and organs. It follows a unique and time-critical clinical course, which in the early stages is highly amenable to treatment through early diagnosis and timely and appropriate clinical management.

Most types of microorganisms can cause sepsis, including bacteria, fungi, viruses, and parasites. However, it may also be caused by infections with seasonal influenza viruses, dengue viruses, and highly transmissible pathogens of public health concern; such as avian and swine influenza viruses, Ebola, and yellow fever viruses.

Sepsis is a major cause of maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality in low- and middle-income countries and affects millions of hospitalized patients in high-income countries.

The Health Innovation Manchester event featured a sepsis quiz, informative video about the signs and symptoms and a poignant patient story from 22-year-old Charlie who had been diagnosed with Sepsis.

After beginning with night sweats and confusion, Charlie’s symptoms rapidly progressed and she developed a temperature, aching muscles and she struggled to breathe. She was taken to the ICU and spent two weeks in hospital before making a recovery. Despite not knowing anything about Sepsis before her diagnosis, she was able to advise her father to get checked at hospital after he began to experience similar symptoms shortly after she recovered, ensuring he received early treatment.

For more information about World Sepsis Day click here