Hi everyone! I am Allison Guo, a 17-year old living in the United States and the author and illustrator of the picture book COVID-19: Not Just the Flu, COVID-19 Pathogenesis Explained Easily for All.

I know that I am speaking for myself and many others when I say that the COVID-19 pandemic has brought about many uncertainties and some uneasiness to all of our lives. My heart goes out to those who have experienced tremendous lifestyle changes, to families who have suffered losses, to the brave essential workers on the frontlines, to the courageous scientists working hard to shed light on the unknowns and to generate treatments, and to many others.

Scientific discovery is paramount for societal advancement, especially right now. By following the ever-changing COVID-19 research during the last few months, I was able to bring back some certainty into my own life: the objectivity offered by science journals and clinical studies, however provisional at the time, were able to provide some degree of comfort during times when everything seemed like brand new territory.

One question, though, that kept on popping into my mind was, “How does COVID-19 actually kill?” To answer this burning question, I emerged myself into the world of COVID-19 findings and had the honor of talking to professionals in the field, gaining their expertise as well. This brought about a whole new level of clarity of the new disease to me, especially the undeniable link between COVID-19 and sepsis. In order to emphasize this link and to bring others the same clarity that the science behind-it-all brought to me (however small), I decided to illustrate and write a picture book explaining COVID-19’s pathogenesis in simple terms.

This book details the unique progression of COVID-19, highlighting both clinically-observed respiratory abnormalities (lung inflammation, pneumonia, and Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome) and systemic disorders (blood clotting and multi-organ failure, which are the typical features of sepsis). I am beyond honored to be recognized by the Global Sepsis Alliance, whose recent work to advance knowledge of the COVID-19 and sepsis link I look up to. I would also like to greatly thank Dr. Konrad Reinhart for his time peer-reviewing the content of this book and graciously writing its foreword.

I am by no means an expert, but my wish is to share the simplistic yet sufficient understanding that I have with others. The goal of this book is to allow people of all ages and educational backgrounds to learn about the new disease. As a result of this, I hope that, for some people, learning the facts will provide stability to grasp onto; I hope that, for others, it will offer optimism that still much more is able to be unearthed; and I hope that, for all, this book presents itself as an opportunity to understand our current reality through a different lens.

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On the occasion of World Sepsis Day, the kindle version of the picture book is free from now until midnight World Sepsis Day. Afterwards, Allison is kindly donating the proceeds from the book to the Global Sepsis Alliance. Thanks Allison, you’re amazing!

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This Wednesday, on 9 September 2020, the World Health Organization and the Global Sepsis Alliance will host the World Sepsis Congress Spotlight: Sepsis, Pandemics, and Antimicrobial Resistance – Global Health Threats of the 21st Century - have you signed up yet?

The WSC Spotlight is an innovative free online congress and a great opportunity for you to connect and learn with leading sepsis experts from around the globe – right from the safety and comfort of your home or office.

Participation is free of charge and can be done from wherever you have an internet connection.

In 6 distinctive sessions, over 30 speakers from more than 20 countries will give 10-minute keynotes and presentations on COVID-19 and the current worldwide pandemic, antimicrobial resistance, sepsis, and how they are all linked. From prevention to acute management, long-term sequela, epidemiology of sepsis, COVID-19, Ebola, and the newest generation of antibiotics, many topics will be covered. After each talk, the speakers will answer questions from the live audience.

For more information on program, speakers, time zones, and to register for free, please visit wscspotlight.org.

On the occasion of the 2020 World Sepsis Day, we have published an Editorial which highlights current challenges, controversies, and opportunities in the efforts to reduce the burden of sepsis globally in the American Journal of Physiology - Lung Cellular and Molecular Physiology.

The recent insights gained from the Global Burden of Disease study are discussed in view of the implications for quality improvement at the regional and national levels. The article emphasizes the importance of an integrative approach to address the impact of sepsis in terms of mortality, morbidity, economic costs, and long-term sequelae on patients, their families, and society.

Update 10 September 2020: The event has concluded and is now available to rewatch on YouTube (starts at 50:37):

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Original Post:

On September 10, the German Sepsis Foundation will organize an event to draw attention to the topic of sepsis and pandemics. High-profile representatives of the healthcare system will discuss necessary measures to reduce sepsis mortality in Germany. Among the participants are renowned physicians, representatives of health authorities, as well as sepsis survivors.

The press conference on ‘How to reduce the number of preventable deaths from sepsis’ will take place from 11:00 to 12:30h, and the panel discussion on "The threat of sepsis and pandemics in the 21st century" from 15:00 to 18:00h, Central European Summer Time.

Both the press conference and the panel discussion will be live-streamed, and attendance for both is free and does not require registration. The event will be held in German.

From September 12 to 16, our friends from Proyecto Sepsis Ecuador are hosting the World Sepsis Meeting. Over the course of 5 days (including World Sepsis Day), more than 150 speakers from 55 countries will speak on many aspects of sepsis, including COVID-19, the link between COVID-19 and sepsis, and much, much more.

The symposium is completely virtual and attendance is free. The Global Sepsis Alliance hereby endorses this amazing event and encourages you to participate.

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Please note that while the Global Sepsis Alliance also hosts two lines of free online congresses in a similar style, namely World Sepsis Congress and World Sepsis Congress Spotlight, the GSA is not involved in the organization of the World Sepsis Meeting.

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On 9 September 2020, the World Health Organization and the Global Sepsis Alliance will host the World Sepsis Congress Spotlight: Sepsis, Pandemics, and Antimicrobial Resistance – Global Health Threats of the 21st Century.

The WSC Spotlight is an innovative free online congress and a great opportunity for you to connect and learn with leading sepsis experts from around the globe – right from the safety and comfort of your home or office.

Participation is free of charge and can be done from wherever you have an internet connection.

In 6 distinctive sessions, over 30 speakers from more than 20 countries will give 10-minute keynotes and presentations on COVID-19 and the current worldwide pandemic, antimicrobial resistance, sepsis, and how they are all linked. From prevention to acute management, long-term sequela, epidemiology of sepsis, COVID-19, Ebola, and the newest generation of antibiotics, many topics will be covered. After each talk, the speakers will answer questions from the live audience.

For more information on program, speakers, time zones, and to register for free, please visit wscspotlight.org.

Jamila Hedjal lost her son Farès to sepsis in 2018, which led her to form the France Sepsis Association. The GSA was able to speak with her exclusively.

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You set up the organization due to the tragic loss of your son Farès in 2018 - in his memory what purpose/direction does the France Sepsis Association have?

I created the France Sepsis Association in November 2018 right after the death of my son Farès, who died after a ‘septic shock’ caused by appendicitis.

I did not know the term ‘sepsis’ or ‘septic shock’ then. As I embarked on research, I discovered that sepsis – according to the WHO resolution in May 2017 – is a global health priority. It is an emergency and causes about 11 million deaths per year worldwide, thereof at least 30,000 in France, which is huge! Moreover, I understood that this pathology is little known to the general public and to some health professionals, except from intensivists, emergency room attendants, etc. Therefore, I saw the need and had great motivation to bring the France Sepsis Association to life. The primary objective should be to raise awareness and educate the general public, and health professionals, in particular general practitioners, caregivers, pharmacists, firefighters, referral nurses at the hospital, and more.

The priority is to diagnose sepsis quickly to ensure the optimal treatment because every minute counts. The earlier sepsis is recognized, the more likely one is to survive. It is absolutely urgent to educate and sensitize the general public and health professionals so they can be involved in the care journey.
This education will also involve the training of patients, families of patients, and healthcare professionals.

The France Sepsis Association is for patients and relatives affected by sepsis. It has the role of accompaniment and support in the follow-up of the care of patients with sepsis, it carries their voices in different instances to improve and ensure their comfort, and the quality and safety of care.

When did the France Sepsis Association come to be?

Officially, the France Sepsis Association was established on April 7th, 2020, during the first stages of the lockdown here in France.

Who else is involved in the France Sepsis Association?

Many people are becoming involved. Currently, most are relatives of sepsis patients and family members of those who died of sepsis, as well as resuscitation and healthcare professionals.

Have you connected with other survivors or families affected by sepsis in the process? What organizations and groups have you connected with?

Yes, absolutely, we are in contact with the families of survivors. The organizations with which we are in contact with are the Ministry of Health, the Regional Health Agency, the High Authority of Health, local authorities, hospitals, the council of the Medical Association, and of course the European Sepsis Alliance Working Group Patient and Family Support.

From your own experience, what do you feel are the current issues causing preventable deaths in France, Europe, and worldwide?

Based on my analysis, I think there are several factors:

1. The underestimation of sepsis and its fatal impact has made it impossible to attract more attention from the public authorities, as a result they are not equipped with the necessary means to stop preventable deaths.

2. The lack of knowledge of how to recognize the symptoms of sepsis combined with the lack of training necessarily lead to late treatment. The lack of safety and quality in care can also cause nosocomial infections.

3. The priority is to focus on general medicine and chronic disease specialties (for people at risk) and to implement all appropriate means in the patient’s care journey to enable the rapid diagnosis of sepsis and to ensure its timely treatment.

What do you think needs to happen to stop preventable deaths from sepsis particularly in France and Europe? What role will the France Sepsis Association play?

Sepsis must be recognized as an imminent emergency as well as cardiovascular diseases. We must act quickly! In the medical jargon, a sepsis patient without treatment in the ‘golden hour’ dies.

For this, it is necessary to inform and educate the general public and health professionals about sepsis through awareness campaigns, media coverage, advertising spots, social media, conferences, carrying out actions for all audiences – children, adolescents, adults, and elderly people.

The collaboration of all health actors, health system institutions, associations, and organizations is a key to success in effectively fighting sepsis and thus preventing deaths. It should be noted that the awareness of public authorities remains an unavoidable lever.

The France Sepsis Association will work in synergy with French, European, and other health bodies and organizations to develop information and communication on sepsis to recognize signs and severity to reduce mortality.

How can the wider network of actors leading the fight against sepsis support the France Sepsis Association in its development?

Thanks to the popularity of the Global Sepsis Alliance and the European Sepsis Alliance’s network, I’m able to learn from the knowledge and experience of other countries. The different actions carried out in all parts of the world should encourage countries like France to develop education and awareness programs on sepsis to reduce mortality. Joint actions such as World Sepsis Day in the four corners of the globe are an opportunity to fight together and have the potential to achieve a high level of awareness in the world. Moreover, a pooling and close collaboration with such a global organization with a common objective is an asset to fight with force this scourge throughout the planet.

I’m convinced that together we can raise the attention on the importance and urgency of sepsis and on its impact on the world, by addressing public authorities and the public opinion via all possible means.

Lastly, I would like to thank the GSA and the ESA for supporting me in creating the France Sepsis Association. Their work and moving sepsis stories were a source of inspiration.

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This interview was conducted by Siobhan Donnachie and Katja Couball via email on Monday, August 10th, 2020. It has been edited for clarity and brevity. A big thanks to Jamila for agreeing to speak with us.

Today, we are thrilled to launch our brand-new online shop, a day earlier than anticipated. Starting immediately, you can order t-shirts, hoodies, sport jerseys, balloons, pocket cards, thumb drives, and much more. A total of 14 items are available, most in our signature pink and black.

We will be introducing more items over time - please let us know what articles you’d like us to add. Likewise, please give us feedback on the overall experience and suggestions for improvements.

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In celebration of the launch of the shop, we are running two promotions:

1. Save 13% on your whole cart with code ‘September13’. Simply enter the code at checkout to claim your special introductory launch discount. This offer is limited to the first 50 orders, so better be quick. Update September 4th, 2020: The code has expired.

2. Until supplies last, every order above 35€ will receive a free WSD Drinking Bottle.

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Update August 20th, 2020: Dark Mode is now fully supported, thanks for your patience.
Original text: Please note that our new WSD Online Shop does not yet fully support dark mode - if you are having trouble viewing certain elements on a page, please switch your device back to light mode. We are working on it.