The Opening Session from the 5th World Sepsis Congress is now available on YouTube (embedded above) and as a podcast wherever you get your podcasts (search for World Sepsis Congress in your favorite podcast app, Apple Podcast link).

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Session 1: Opening Session

Moderated by Shahrzad Kiavash, Sepsis Survivor from Sweden

Opening Remarks
Niranjan ‘Tex’ Kissoon, Global Sepsis Alliance, Canada

Video Address by WHO Director-General
Dr. Tedros Adhanmon Ghebreyesus, Director-General World Health Organization, Switzerland

The Ministerial Perspective on the Sepsis Response
Frank C.S. Anthony, Minister of Health, Guyana

Sepsis Response Through a Parliamentarian Lens
Craig Mackinlay, Member of the UK House of Lords, United Kingdom

The Potential of AI in Global Health and the Global Sepsis Response
Ricardo Baptista-Leite, HealthAI, Switzerland

Remaining Challenges in the Global Sepsis Response
Konrad Reinhart, Sepsis Stiftung, Germany

Implementing the 2030 Global Agenda for Sepsis
Mariam Jashi, Global Sepsis Alliance, Georgia

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Two new sessions are released weekly on Tuesdays. The next sessions will be ‘S2: Sepsis Epidemiology and Clinical Data’ and ‘S3: The Voices of Patients in Advocacy, Research, and Beyond’

You can already subscribe on either platform to be automatically notified once new sessions are available.

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Full Release Schedule

S1: Opening Session – Tuesday, April 15, 2025

S2: Sepsis Epidemiology and Clinical Data – Tuesday, April 22, 2025

S3: The Voices of Patients in Advocacy, Research, and Beyond – Tuesday, April 22, 2025

S4: Novel Approaches to Pathogen Detection and Sepsis Diagnostics – Tuesday, April 29, 2025

S5: The Immunization Agenda for Sepsis – Tuesday, April 29, 2025

S6: Pathways for Sepsis Care – Integrated Emergency, Critical, and Operative Care (ECO) – Tuesday, May 6, 2025

S7: Bridging Sepsis Knowledge Gaps in HICs and LMICs – Tuesday, May 6, 2025

S8: Infection Prevention and Control in Community and Healthcare Settings – Tuesday, May 13, 2025

S9: Reducing Sepsis Mortality Through System Change – Lessons from Trailblazing Countries? – Tuesday, May 13, 2025

S10: AI Solutions for Sepsis – Tuesday, May 20, 2025

S11: The Research Agenda for AMR and Sepsis – Tuesday, May 20, 2025

S12: Pediatric Sepsis: The LMICs Cannot Wait for Improved Outcomes Any Longer – Tuesday, May 27, 2025

S13: State of the Art in Sepsis Research: Emerging Immunomodulatory Approaches – Tuesday, May 27, 2025

S14: Sepsis in Emergencies and Humanitarian Crisis – Tuesday, June 3, 2025

S15: Prevention and Rehabilitation of Long-Term Sequelae From Sepsis – Tuesday, June 3, 2025

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On April 13, 2025, the Global Sepsis Alliance (GSA), in collaboration with Sepsis Stiftung and with support from Sanofi, hosted a high-level session at the ESCMID Global Symposium in Vienna.

Titled “Preventing Bacterial Infections: A Crucial Front in the Fight Against Sepsis and Antimicrobial Resistance,” the session brought together leading experts from the Global Sepsis Alliance (GSA) and the European Sepsis Alliance (ESA) to spotlight prevention as a cornerstone strategy in combating sepsis and antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

The event was co-chaired by Dr. Mariam Jashi, CEO of the Global Sepsis Alliance, former Member of Parliament and Health Minister of Georgia, and Dr. Michele Bartoletti, Associate Professor of Infectious Diseases at Humanitas University and Head of the Infectious Diseases Unit at Humanitas Research Hospital, Italy.

In her opening remarks, Dr. Jashi emphasized the urgency and opportunity in the fight against sepsis: “We rarely have the opportunity in our professional lives – as clinicians, researchers, political leaders, or innovators – to save millions of lives. That opportunity is now, in the global fight against sepsis, a major killer of children, women, and men worldwide.”

She highlighted that 8 million of the 13.66 million annual sepsis-related deaths are linked to bacterial infections, including 4.95 million deaths directly attributable to or associated with AMR. Dr. Jashi introduced the 2030 Global Agenda for Sepsis, the first multi-year, holistic strategy calling for strong political commitment and investment in prevention through vaccines, infection prevention and control (IPC), diagnostics, targeted therapies, and post-sepsis care solutions.

The session opened with a moving video message from Uwe Wiermann, a sepsis survivor from Germany and Regional Director for the NRW Amputee Association. Uwe shared his personal journey, highlighting the lack of public awareness around sepsis, noting that like many others, he had never heard of the condition before his life-altering experience.

Scientific Presentations from GSA and ESA Experts

• Prof. Antonio Artigas, Chair of Sepsis and Acute Respiratory Failure Research at the Autonomous University of Barcelona, presented on “Sepsis Susceptibility and Comorbidities”, exploring the European epidemiology of sepsis and how factors such as sex, socio-economic status, nutrition, and pre-existing conditions influence outcomes, especially in older adults.

• Prof. Lisa Mellhammar, Associate Professor and Senior Consultant at Skåne University Hospital in Lund, Sweden, shared insights from a nationwide cohort study (1987–2022) on pediatric sepsis. Her findings revealed that children who survive sepsis face elevated mortality and long-term health challenges even five years post-infection. She also emphasized the pressing need for more comprehensive pediatric data at national and global levels.

• Prof. Evangelos J. Giamarellos-Bourboulis, Chair of the European Sepsis Alliance and Professor of Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, concluded the session with a presentation titled “From Trained Immunity to Vaccination: Room for Prevention from Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria?” He presented pioneering research showing how BCG vaccination can enhance immune responses and provide protection against respiratory and hospital-acquired infections, including COVID-19.

Looking Ahead: Global Collaboration

In her closing remarks, Dr. Jashi invited participants to engage with the Global Sepsis Innovations Platform, a new initiative by the GSA aimed at accelerating collaboration around unmet needs in sepsis prevention, diagnostics, treatment, and post-sepsis care.

She extended her gratitude to Prof. Konrad Reinhart, President of Sepsis Stiftung, and Sanofi for their partnership in co-convening this impactful session at the ESCMID Global Symposium.

Thank you all for joining the 5th World Sepsis Congress yesterday – the congress was a monumental success, with almost 12,000 registrations from more than 180 countries. A full report will be available in May. We are immensely thankful to over 80 speakers from more than 35 countries, as well as our excellent moderators.

We would like to extend a special thanks to Dr. Tedros, WHO Director-General, for his video address in the Opening Session, and Sir Jeremy Farrar, WHO’s Chief Scientist, for his keynote in Session 8.

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Release Schedule

All sessions of the 5th World Sepsis Congress have been recorded and will be available on YouTube and wherever you get your podcasts over the next couple of weeks.

We will release the sessions weekly on Tuesdays, starting with the Opening Session on April 15, 2025. From then on, we will be releasing two new sessions each Tuesday:

• S1: Opening Session – Tuesday, April 15, 2025

• S2: Sepsis Epidemiology and Clinical Data – Tuesday, April 22, 2025

• S3: The Voices of Patients in Advocacy, Research, and Beyond – Tuesday, April 22, 2025

• S4: Novel Approaches to Pathogen Detection and Sepsis Diagnostics – Tuesday, April 29, 2025

• S5: The Immunization Agenda for Sepsis – Tuesday, April 29, 2025

• S6: Pathways for Sepsis Care – Integrated Emergency, Critical, and Operative Care (ECO) – Tuesday, May 6, 2025

• S7: Bridging Sepsis Knowledge Gaps in HICs and LMICs – Tuesday, May 6, 2025

• S8: Infection Prevention and Control in Community and Healthcare Settings – Tuesday, May 13, 2025

• S9: Reducing Sepsis Mortality Through System Change – Lessons from Trailblazing Countries? – Tuesday, May 13, 2025

• S10: AI Solutions for Sepsis – Tuesday, May 20, 2025

• S11: The Research Agenda for AMR and Sepsis – Tuesday, May 20, 2025

• S12: Pediatric Sepsis: The LMICs Cannot Wait for Improved Outcomes Any Longer – Tuesday, May 27, 2025

• S13: State of the Art in Sepsis Research: Emerging Immunomodulatory Approaches – Tuesday, May 27, 2025

• S14: Sepsis in Emergencies and Humanitarian Crisis – Tuesday, June 3, 2025

• S15: Prevention and Rehabilitation of Long-Term Sequelae From Sepsis – Tuesday, June 3, 2025

Or just search for ‘World Sepsis Congress’ on YouTube or in your favorite podcast app. You can already subscribe on either platform to be automatically notified when new sessions become available.

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Certificate of Attendance

Your Certificates of Attendance will be available on April 22 at the latest, and you will receive exact instructions on how to obtain yours with the session mailing for Sessions 2 and 3 on April 22 – stay tuned.

The first session of the 5th World Sepsis Congress is now live:

Participating in all 15 sessions of the 5th WSC is free and incredibly easy – just click on the button below and enter your email if you are registered already. If not, simply register for the congress here before joining the livestream.

Pro tip: If you can’t make it, just register anyway and we will send you the links to the recordings once available.

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ABOUT the 5th World Sepsis Congress

The Global Sepsis Alliance proudly presents the 5th World Sepsis Congress, a free, virtual event bringing together over 90 leading experts from around the world to discuss the latest in sepsis research, innovation, and policy.

The program features over 90 expert speakers, including leading clinicians, scientists, policymakers, and representatives from patient advocacy groups. Topics will range from the latest research on personalized medicine and innovative therapies to global strategies for infection prevention to sepsis care delivery, and how AI can be leveraged to diagnose sepsis early. Special attention will be given to the impact of climate change on infectious diseases, the rising threat of AMR, and how combating sepsis aligns with the SDGs’ commitment to health equity and universal access to care.

Additionally, the congress will feature two panel discussions, which will make patients' voices heard and showcase lessons from countries that are reducing sepsis mortality through system change.

Registrations for the 5th World Sepsis Congress remain open. Attendees can participate live on their internet-connected devices and access recordings on demand after the event.

Don't miss this opportunity to gain insights and knowledge from the world's leading sepsis experts. Register now and be part of this global effort to improve sepsis outcomes for patients everywhere. For more information on the program, speakers, and time zones, and to register for free, please visit worldsepsiscongress.org.

The Global Sepsis Alliance is proud to announce the launch of the Global Sepsis Survivors and Families Committee (GSSFC), which will meet for the first time on 15 April 2025 at 14:00 CEST.

The GSSFC will serve as a dedicated platform for sepsis survivors and family members to connect, share experiences, and advocate for greater awareness and improved care. Building on the success of the European Sepsis Alliance’s Patient and Family Support Working Group, this new global committee will empower the survivor community to drive change, locally and internationally.

The 2030 Global Agenda for Sepsis suggests that awareness on sepsis and its sequelae should be improved among the public, media and policymakers through consistent advocacy, a simplified new narrative on sepsis, and the engagement of sepsis survivors and patient families.

The Committee will be co-chaired by Marianne Haverkamp, who also leads the European Sepsis Alliance’s Patient and Family Support Working Group, and Duncan Brown, father of Kuan Brown who passed away unexpectedly due to undiagnosed sepsis, both of whom bring poignant experiences and a strong commitment to advancing the cause.

Through its work, the GSSFC aims to:

• Amplify the voices of sepsis survivors and families in global advocacy, leveraging the GSA network and activities.

• Share successful stories, strategies, and tools for improving sepsis awareness, care and support.

• Raise awareness on life after sepsis, including the physical, cognitive, and psychological challenges survivors and caregivers face.

• Facilitate peer support and build a global survivor network.

• Develop multilingual advocacy resources and host regular webinars and workshops.

If you are a sepsis survivor or family member interested in joining the Committee and contributing to its work, please contact Simone Mancini, GSA Partnership Lead, at Simone.Mancini@global-sepsis-alliance.org.

Together, we can strengthen the global voice of those most affected by sepsis, and create lasting impact.

The 5th World Sepsis Congress is almost here – starting Tuesday, April 8 at 14:00h Central European Summer Time, free of charge and entirely online.

Participating in all 15 sessions of the 5th WSC is free and incredibly easy – just click on the button below and enter your email if you are registered already. If not, simply register for the congress here before joining the livestream.

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ABOUT the 5th World Sepsis Congress

The Global Sepsis Alliance proudly presents the 5th World Sepsis Congress, a free, virtual event bringing together over 90 leading experts from around the world to discuss the latest in sepsis research, innovation, and policy.

The program features over 90 expert speakers, including leading clinicians, scientists, policymakers, and representatives from patient advocacy groups. Topics will range from the latest research on personalized medicine and innovative therapies to global strategies for infection prevention to sepsis care delivery, and how AI can be leveraged to diagnose sepsis early. Special attention will be given to the impact of climate change on infectious diseases, the rising threat of AMR, and how combating sepsis aligns with the SDGs’ commitment to health equity and universal access to care.

Additionally, the congress will feature two panel discussions, which will make patients' voices heard and showcase lessons from countries that are reducing sepsis mortality through system change.

Registrations for the 5th World Sepsis Congress remain open. Attendees can participate live on their internet-connected devices and access recordings on demand after the event.

Don't miss this opportunity to gain insights and knowledge from the world's leading sepsis experts. Register now and be part of this global effort to improve sepsis outcomes for patients everywhere. For more information on the program, speakers, and time zones, and to register for free, please visit worldsepsiscongress.org.

The 5th World Sepsis Congress is just 5 days away – taking place live, free of charge, and entirely online next Tuesday and Wednesday. If you haven’t yet, it’s not too late to register.

If you can’t make it live next week, just register anyway, and we’ll send you the link to the recordings afterward.

Under the theme Sepsis Research and Innovations, this free virtual event on April 8-9, 2025 will bring together thousands of participants from more than 180 countries to address one of our time's most pressing global health challenges.

Dr. Niranjan ‘Tex’ Kissoon

“This congress is an invitation for all to come together and reaffirm our commitment to end suffering and preventable deaths from sepsis, and to appreciate the progress being made by dedicated colleagues worldwide. Please join us in April 2025.”

— Dr. Niranjan 'Tex' Kissoon, President Global Sepsis Alliance

“We are excited to host a Congress that fosters collaboration and inspires innovation. The 5th World Sepsis Congress will empower us to collectively address the enormous global burden of sepsis and develop solutions that advance healthcare for all.”

— Dr. Mariam Jashi, CEO Global Sepsis Alliance

Dr. Mariam Jashi

The program features over 90 expert speakers, including leading clinicians, scientists, policymakers, and representatives from patient advocacy groups. Topics will range from the latest research on personalized medicine and innovative therapies to global strategies for infection prevention to sepsis care delivery, and how AI can be leveraged to diagnose sepsis early. Special attention will be given to the impact of climate change on infectious diseases, the rising threat of AMR, and how combating sepsis aligns with the SDGs’ commitment to health equity and universal access to care.

Additionally, the congress will feature two panel discussions, which will make patients' voices heard and showcase lessons from countries that are reducing sepsis mortality through system change.

Registrations for the 5th World Sepsis Congress remain open. Attendees can participate live on their internet-connected devices and access recordings on demand after the event.

Hon. Vytenis Andriukaitis

“By working together, we can save lives and prevent suffering caused by this devastating medical emergency”, said Vytenis Andriukaitis, MEP and ESA Patron, welcoming the Call to Action that the European Sepsis Alliance launched at its 8th Annual Meeting, hosted in the European Parliament on 19 March.

The event, taking place at the heart of European policymaking, marked a pivotal moment for sepsis advocacy in Europe. It provided a unique platform to unite healthcare professionals, policymakers, researchers, survivors, and advocacy leaders in their collective mission to improve sepsis care across the continent. As a starting point for enhanced advocacy efforts for sepsis in Europe, the meeting underscored the urgent need for coordinated action and reinforced the commitment to the 2030 Global Agenda for Sepsis.

Prof. Evangelos J. Giamarellos Bourboulis

Prof. Evangelos J. Giamarellos-Bourboulis, Chair of the European Sepsis Alliance, set the tone with a passionate keynote address. As he presented the recently published main outcomes of the European Sepsis Care Survey, he stressed the critical need for enhanced awareness and better management of sepsis within healthcare systems: “The majority of units [in Europe] do not have standardized screening; there is no standard operating procedure (SOP) for management of sepsis; 70% of the hospital have no training or quality improvement program; almost 90% of the labs have limited service just for blood cultures”.

Ricardo Baptista Leite

The call for improvement of sepsis standard of care in Europe was echoed by Prof. Konrad Reinhart, Founding President of the Global Sepsis Alliance, who urged stakeholders to move beyond fragmented efforts. “We need urgently to combine all these issues - sepsis, AMR, pandemic preparedness - in strategic holistic approaches”, he asserted, highlighting the need for integration of sepsis in health systems and for collaboration.

One of the most inspiring contributions came from Hon. Ricardo Baptista Leite, President of the UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health, who called for legislative backing to sustain progress. Pointing to the importance of embedding sepsis into policy frameworks, he exhorted the European policymakers of this mandate to take responsibility and action: "We cannot let this mandate end without a European Sepsis Plan with clear actions clear resources, clear metrics that we can measure in terms of results".

Dr. Mariam Jashi

Dr. Mariam Jashi, CEO of the Global Sepsis Alliance, laid out the potential of the 2030 Global Agenda for Sepsis, advocating for Europe to take a leading role. “By setting clear targets and benchmarks, Europe can demonstrate global leadership in combating sepsis”, she explained, echoing Hon. Baptista Leite in challenging policymakers to seize the opportunity.

Shahrzad Kiavash (left) and Marianne Haverkamp

The panel discussion moderated by Dr. Ron Daniels, CEO of the UK Sepsis Trust, offered a diverse range of perspectives, highlighting both personal and professional insights, converging on the importance of awareness, education, and patient involvement in the fight against sepsis. Survivor and triathlete Shahrzad Kiavash shared her story of suffering and resilience, calling for public awareness: “Survivors like me are living proof that better care saves lives”. Adding an essential perspective, Marianne Haverkamp, Co-Chair of the ESA Patient and Family Support WG and of the GSA Global Sepsis Survivor and Families Committee, shared her personal journey of overcoming sepsis and how living with the aftermath of sepsis is a constant challenge, also for families.

Prof. Djillali Annane

Prof. Djillali Annane’s opinion is that “if we failed to solve the issue of sepsis for so many decades, it is because we did not listen to patients and their families and the most important thing to win that battle is to know better that enemy and to listen to those were exposed to it”.

Responding to the perspective of survivors, Prof. Maurizio Cecconi from Humanitas University and Past President of the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine (ESICM), stressed the importance of education at all levels, to improve early detection and treatment, echoed by Prof. Jan De Waele, current ESICM President, who reflected on the role of professional organizations in bringing awareness beyond the ICU, as sepsis happens mainly in the community and its effects affect people also after hospital discharge.

Dr. Nora Lüthi

The importance of awareness and education was also reiterated by Dr. Nora Lüthi, Medical Programme Manager for the Sepsis Plan in Switzerland: “It was very clear that we had to prioritize sepsis awareness, education of the public and of healthcare workers, that we should promote research, and post sepsis support for survivors and family members, and then issue and develop standardized protocols for early detection and treatment.”

Very much appreciated was the attendance by remote of two key stakeholders which should have a key role in the near future when it comes to sepsis treatment and preparedness. Marco Cavaleri confirmed the commitment of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) to accelerating access to innovative treatments and underscored the need for regulatory frameworks that support innovation. Meanwhile, Raquel Rodríguez Alonso from the Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA) of the European Commission, recognized the importance of sepsis as a critical concern, and presented the work of HERA in making sure that medical countermeasures are in place across European countries, also to prevent and treat infections.

Dr. Ron Daniels, Prof. Jan De Waele, Prof. Antonio Artigas, Prof. Maurizio Cecconi

Prof. Antonio Artigas, Professor of Intensive Care Medicine at the Autonomous University of Barcelona, while presenting the progress made in sepsis management in Catalunya, thanks to a regional action plan, he also elaborated on the clinical challenges associated with sepsis diagnosis and treatment. He noted that the complexity of sepsis requires a multifaceted approach, integrating early diagnosis, advanced treatment options, and continuous education for healthcare professionals.

The meeting concluded with a strong call for continued collaboration and political will. The European Sepsis Alliance, together with the stakeholders who joined the event, will continue engaging with policy makers, further sharing the Call to Action “ Stop Sepsis, the leading cause of preventable deaths and disability in Europe”, and advocating for a European and National Sepsis Plans, with awareness, education, early detection, research and patient support at their core.