According to the World Health Organization (WHO), sepsis causes 1 out of every 5 deaths. In calling for global action to decrease the incidence of sepsis, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General called for rapid diagnosis and improved treatment of this deadly disease:

“The world must urgently step up efforts to improve data about sepsis so all countries can detect and treat this terrible condition in time. This means strengthening health information systems and ensuring access to rapid diagnostic tools, and quality care including safe and affordable medicines and vaccines.”

In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that each year at least 1.7 million adults in the U.S. develop sepsis, and nearly 270,000 die as a result.

Diagnose and Treat Sepsis as Quickly as Possible

For the Physician-Patient Alliance for Health & Safety, sepsis is personal.

Dr. Kenneth Rothfield is Chief Quality & Medical Officer at Texas Health Arlington Memorial Hospital. Dr. Rothfield is also on our board of advisors. He is not only a doctor, but he developed sepsis following routine hernia surgery. So, Dr. Rothfield has the unique perspective of knowing sepsis from the point of view of a doctor and a patient.

We did a podcast with Dr. Rothfield about his experience with sepsis. At that time, he was the Chief Medical Officer at Medical City Dallas. In the podcast, Dr. Ken Rothfield emphasizes the need for early detection and treatment of sepsis and implores his colleagues to commit to the early detection and treatment of sepsis:

“I would like you to commit to early detection and treatment of sepsis, because you may not get a second chance to save your patient’s life.

“But, first, you have to know when your patient is suffering from sepsis. You must know at the earliest possible time when sepsis is occurring. Clinical studies show that mortality is significantly reduced if septic patients are identified at early stages of the disease process. In my own case, I was admitting on Thursday, by Friday I was septic, but it was not until Saturday that emergency surgery was performed which removed a section of gangrenous intestine. In my opinion, this can best be done through patient monitoring, which would have been able to provide early detection of my sepsis and I could have had earlier intervention.

“Monitoring a patient’s heart rate and respiratory rate allows clinicians to detect changes over time while supporting hospital protocols for early detection of sepsis. Although nursing assessments taken every few hours may detect sepsis, patient monitoring can alert you at the earliest possible moment when sepsis is developing.

“You may not get a second chance to save your patient’s life – monitor for sepsis.”

Global Sepsis Alliance Commends Podcast with Dr. Ken Rothfield

Global Sepsis Alliance (GSA) is a non-profit charity organization with the mission to provide global leadership to reduce the worldwide burden of sepsis. The GSA was founded at the Merinoff Symposium, which was hosted by the Feinstein Institute, in 2010 with the aim to raise awareness for sepsis worldwide and reduce sepsis deaths by 20% by 2020. As of today, more than 100 organizations from all over the world have joined the Global Sepsis Alliance.

GSA commended the Physician-Patient Alliance for Health & Safety for our podcast featuring Dr. Rothfield. The Global Sepsis Awards, which are sponsored by the Erin Kay Flatley Memorial Foundation, honor outstanding efforts to increase sepsis awareness and raise the quality of sepsis prevention and management.

GSA invited the Physician-Patient Alliance for Health & Safety to be a member of GSA.

We are proud to be a member of GSA and will continue to raise awareness about and advocate for the early detection and treatment of sepsis.