The international community celebrates World Septicemia Day on September 13 each year. This day is of Anglo-Saxon origin and dates back to 2012.

World Sepsis Day aims to raise awareness of this major public health problem among the general public and decision-makers, and to assist in the implementation of research that meets the challenges identified.

Sepsis is based on two elements: colonization of the blood by the pathogen, bacterium, virus or fungus, and sepsis, which is a generalized inflammatory reaction following a serious infection. By invading the bloodstream, germs can cause impairment of heart, lung, brain and kidney function.

Symptoms of septicemia

La septicémie affecte l’ensemble de l’organisme. On observe une accélération du rythme cardiaque, la fièvre monte, des frissons et des difficultés respiratoires apparaissent rapidement. Dans certains cas, la température du corps peut paradoxalement ne pas augmenter, voire même être basse. Des douleurs intenses dans l’abdomen ou d’autres parties du corps. La personne atteinte est sujet à des troubles de la conscience pouvant aller jusqu’à la perte de connaissance, rendant la communication compliquée.

The fight against sepsis, a health emergency

This disease affects nearly 30 million people worldwide and is estimated to cause the death of 6 to 9 million people. Although it mainly affects the elderly in developed countries, sepsis also affects many newborns and is the second most common source of death after hemorrhage in women who have given birth.

Learn more about sepsis

Sepsis refers to the adverse consequences on vital functions of severe infections that cause a very high mortality despite medical advances.

Sepsis occurs when pathogens enter the bloodstream, sometimes using the term blood poisoning.

Sepsis is a real public health problem, with the number of hospitalizations almost doubling in the last ten years. In “advanced” countries, mortality from sepsis is equivalent to that from myocardial infarction.

Calls for more action from all stakeholders

The increasing resistance of bacteria to antibiotics, the lack of rapid and accurate diagnostic tests and the costs of treatment are the major challenges in this area. The neurological consequences in survivors are also factors that indicate that sustained efforts must be made to combat this disease.