Sepsis is a condition that can be caused by bacteria, fungi or viruses in the blood and is the result of the body’s response to infection. Approximately 22.5% of cases of severe sepsis are fatal.1 The mortality rate is even higher for fungal infections.2 Sepsis is defined as life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection.3 20% of deaths worldwide are sepsis-related1 and patient survival decreases by ~8% with each hour of delay before effective treatment.4
With 49 million cases worldwide each year, its impact on human life and healthcare systems5 is staggering.
Sepsis is most likely to develop in immunocompromised, paediatric, and elderly populations; or those who have an indwelling medical device or catheter. Sepsis rates are on the rise because of a rising elderly population, increased longevity of individuals with chronic diseases such as cancer, technological advances in medicine that lead to more frequent use of invasive medical devices, and the extensive use of antibiotics.5