Sepsis accounts for approximately 20% of deaths globally and is a source of major healthcare spending [1,2]. Reducing the burden of sepsis is identified as a key public health priority area [3]. Sepsis is associated with several organ dysfunction syndromes that significantly lead to increased morbidity and mortality. Even among sepsis survivors, post-sepsis syndrome is often reported, indicating that long-term adverse risks can remain [4,5].

Identifying and addressing sepsis early is key to improved outcomes, yet it is challenging. We are currently developing novel molecular diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers to improve rapid sepsis detection, as well as predict associated acute organ dysfunction syndromes and chronic post-sepsis syndromes.

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[1] Rudd KE, et al. Global, regional, and national sepsis incidence and mortality, 1990-2017: analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study. Lancet. 2020 Jan 18;395(10219):200-211. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(19)32989-7. PMID: 31954465; PMCID: PMC6970225.

[2] Rudd KE, Kissoon N, Limmathurotsakul D, Bory S, Mutahunga B, Seymour CW, Angus DC, West TE. The global burden of sepsis: barriers and potential solutions. Crit Care. 2018 Sep 23;22(1):232. doi: 10.1186/s13054-018-2157-z. PMID: 30243300; PMCID: PMC6151187.

[3] Reinhart K, et al. Recognizing Sepsis as a Global Health Priority - A WHO Resolution. N Engl J Med. 2017 Aug 3;377(5):414-417. doi: 10.1056/NEJMp1707170. Epub 2017 Jun 28. PMID: 28658587.

[4] Mostel Z, Perl A, Marck M, Mehdi SF, Lowell B, Bathija S, Santosh R, Pavlov VA, Chavan SS, Roth J. Post-sepsis syndrome - an evolving entity that afflicts survivors of sepsis. Mol Med. 2019;26(1):6. Epub 20191231. doi: 10.1186/s10020-019-0132-z. PubMed PMID: 31892321; PMCID: PMC6938630.

[5] Gritte RB, Souza-Siqueira T, Curi R, Machado MCC, Soriano FG. Why Septic Patients Remain Sick After Hospital Discharge? Front Immunol. 2020;11:605666. Epub 20210215. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.605666. PubMed PMID: 33658992; PMCID: PMC7917203.