Scientific Publications

No age group is at such a high risk of contracting sepsis as children in the first years of life. Of the estimated 50 million cases of sepsis worldwide each year, around half affect newborns, children and adolescents. This represents an enormous burden on society, both in terms of mortality and morbidity and in terms of long-term consequences and costs. In contrast, however, there is limited evidence and resources dedicated to the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of sepsis in children. This makes it all the more important that The Lancet has published a series on pediatric sepsis. This series, written by an international team of experts in the field of pediatric sepsis, provides up-to-date insights into the current state of knowledge, existing gaps and a roadmap to combat sepsis in children. The four articles in the series are available free online and cover: i) the epidemiology of sepsis in children, mortality and short-term burden, long-term consequences and the link to the Sustainable Development Goals; ii) the particular vulnerability of the child organism to sepsis, current treatment strategies and controversies, and a roadmap for future research; iii) barriers, gaps and lessons learned from quality programs on sepsis in children and recommendations for future quality initiatives; and iv) innovations in digital approaches to measure, detect and treat sepsis.

• 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 contemporary 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 programs 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

In 2022, Switzerland launched the National Action Plan on Sepsis to improve awareness, prevention and treatment of this life-threatening disease. 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 healthcare system to improve the treatment and recovery of sepsis patients.

• Swiss National Action Plan against Sepsis
• Frontiers | 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 analyses for this first Swiss Sepsis Report demonstrate that sepsis is a frequent, deadly, and costly health problem in Switzerland, yet still underestimated. Aimed at policymakers, healthcare professionals, researchers, and the public, the report seeks to raise awareness of the magnitude of the problem, provide a common evidence base for decision-making, and support continuous improvement in sepsis care.

The report summarises findings from a comprehensive analysis of all acute-care hospital discharge records in Switzerland between 2019 and 2023 covering all age groups. It examines sepsis incidence, mortality, healthcare use, and direct hospital costs, providing comprehensive and contemporary estimates of the burden of sepsis in Switzerland.

• Swiss Sepsis Report
• View scientific publication

• National Estimates of Pediatric Sepsis in US Hospitals Using Clinical Data | Critical Care Medicine | JAMA | JAMA Network