On 26 May 2017, the World Health Organization (WHO) agreed on a resolution to improve the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of sepsis. The resolution urges governments to strengthen their policies in infection prevention and to decrease the spread of antimicrobial resistance.
The resolution itself focuses on the following key preventive actions: reinforcing health worker training to be able to recognize and deal with sepsis; to improve reporting of cases; and, to promote research to develop tools for the diagnosis and treatment of sepsis. The resolution further encourages that the WHO develop guidance for the prevention and management of sepsis, and to help member states to develop the infrastructure to reduce the clinical and economic burden of sepsis.
The resolution was adopted following the World Health Assembly Side Event on Sepsis that was jointly hosted by the German Ministry of Health, the International Alliance of Patients’ Organizations and the Global Sepsis Alliance. Bactiguard is a proud sponsor of the Global Sepsis Alliance, and attended the event.
Early recognition of sepsis is key for saving lives. Sepsis occurs when the body’s tissues and organs are injured by the reaction caused by infections. Infections can be a result of bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites, with bacterial infections being the most common triggers for sepsis. Antimicrobial resistance makes it exponentially more difficult to treat infections and stop them evolving to sepsis.
An estimated 50% of the sepsis cases derive from hospital-acquired infections[1] (HAI), including catheter-acquired urinary tract infections, ventilator-associated pneumonia and catheter-related bloodstream infections. As such, prevention of HAI is critical in reducing sepsis. Bactiguard is committed to this reduction through the Bactiguard Infection Protection portfolio and professional training program (BIP CIP), which address the most commonly occurring HAI.
To see the WHO resolution in full, please click here.
The World Sepsis Day takes place annually on September 13th, read more here