Scientific publications

In 2022, Switzerland launched the National Sepsis Action Plan to improve awareness, prevention, and treatment of this life-threatening condition. The action plan sets out strategies and priorities to achieve the goals of the World Sepsis Declaration 2030. It aims to develop solutions tailored to the needs of the Swiss population and the healthcare system to improve the treatment and recovery of patients with sepsis.

• Swiss National Action Plan Against Sepsis
• Swiss Sepsis National Action Plan: A coordinated national action plan to stop sepsis-related preventable deaths and to improve the support of people affected by sepsis in Switzerland

The Swiss Sepsis Report 2025 highlights the significant burden of sepsis in Switzerland. It shows that sepsis is common, life-threatening, and associated with high costs, yet it is still underestimated. Based on all hospitalization data from Swiss acute care hospitals from 2019 to 2023, the report provides the first-ever national overview of incidence, mortality, resource utilization, and direct hospital costs. In doing so, it establishes an important foundation for raising awareness, improving decision-making, and advancing the targeted development of sepsis care.

• Swiss Sepsis Report 2025
• To the scientific publication

Children in their first years of life are at the highest risk for sepsis. Worldwide , about half of the estimated 50 million cases of sepsis each year affect newborns , children, and adolescents. The consequences are severe for those affected, their families, and healthcare systems. At the same time, there is still a lack of knowledge and resources in many areas regarding the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of pediatric sepsis. The Lancet series on pediatric sepsis brings together the current state of knowledge, identifies gaps, and highlights ways to improve care.

• The Lancet – Paediatric sepsis Series
• Daniela de Souza: overcoming adversities to beat sepsis in Brazil
• Making sense of paediatric sepsis – Editorial
• Sepsis Series Part 1. Watson 2024 – The burden and current epidemiology of sepsis in children
• Sepsis Series Part 2. Carter 2024 – Susceptibility to childhood sepsis, contemporary management, and future directions
• Sepsis Series Part 3. De Souza 2024 – Quality improvement programmes in paediatric sepsis from a global perspective
• Sepsis Series Part 4. Sanchez-Pinto 2024 – Digital solutions in paediatric sepsis: current state, challenges, and opportunities to improve care around the world
• Sepsis Series. Schlapbach 2024 – Luregn Schlapbach: advocating for children with sepsis

The study highlights the significant impact of sepsis on children in hospitals. Based on clinical data from U.S. hospitals, the authors estimate that there are more than 18,000 cases of sepsis and over 1,800 deaths among children each year. At the same time, the study makes it clear that sepsis can be better tracked using standardized clinical data, thereby enabling more targeted improvements in care and early detection.

• National Estimates of Pediatric Sepsis in US Hospitals Using Clinical Data

This U.S. study focuses on life after childhood sepsis. It shows that many children continue to struggle with the consequences long after their hospital stay and do not quickly regain their previous quality of life. It thus makes it clear that sepsis in children is not only life-threatening but also often has long-term effects.

• Trajectory of Mortality and Health-Related Quality of Life Morbidity Following Community-Acquired Pediatric Septic Shock

The Norwegian study shows that many sepsis survivors do not return to work quickly or permanently . It makes it clear that sepsis is not only an acute, life-threatening condition, but also often has long-term health and social consequences.

• Return to Work After Hospitalization for Sepsis: A Nationwide, Registry-Based Cohort Study