For the first time, Sepsis Alliance joined forces with Sepsis Forum: Bench. Bedside. Beyond, to offer a 3rd day of the 5th annual Sepsis Alliance Summit focused on global viewpoints on sepsis. This was held on Friday, September 27, marking an important milestone in the ongoing fight against sepsis. Throughout the day, there were over 500 attendees, showcasing the widespread interest and commitment to improving sepsis care and outcomes.
If you missed the live event, you can still view the recordings by registering to be a member of the Sepsis Alliance (free!) and following the links under the appropriate session on the agenda here. The day consisted of five highly-engaging sessions:
Session 1: Implementation of Pediatric Sepsis Phoenix Criteria Across the Globe: Building Equity?
- Dr. Nelson Sanchez-Pinto presented on the Development of the Phoenix Criteria for Sepsis and Septic Shock in Children, discussing its design and objectives.
- Dr. Andrew Argent followed with a talk on The Phoenix Pediatric Sepsis Definitions – Applying Them in South Africa, highlighting the challenges and successes of implementing these criteria in a resource-limited setting.
On Day 1 of the Sepsis Summit (September 25), UBC Prof Dr Pascal Lavoie also spoke on Neonatal Sepsis: A Global Challenge. You can view his talk on the same website described above.
Session 2: Challenges & Opportunities for Improving Maternal Sepsis Care
- Dr. Cathy Ellis discussed the Midwives’ Role in Preventing Maternal and Neonatal Sepsis in Low- and Middle-Income Countries, underscoring the importance of midwifery education.
- Dr. Elliott Main presented Addressing Maternal Sepsis: A Large-Scale Quality Improvement Approach, sharing insights from the US perspective aimed at improving maternal sepsis outcomes.
- Dr. Maria Fernanda Escobar Vidarte offered Practical Approaches to Addressing Maternal Sepsis in Low-to-Middle Income Countries, focusing on hands-on strategies in Latin America to reduce maternal mortality.
Session 3: Bedside Education: Teaching Providers How to Apply Best Practices
- Dr. Laura Evans presented The Hard Part - Turning Guidelines Into Practice, examining the gap between guidelines and their real-world application in clinical settings.
Dr. Halima Salisu Kabara discussed Transformational Leadership: People-Centered Framework to Address Antimicrobial Resistance, the Silent Tsunami!, emphasizing the critical role of leadership in tackling antimicrobial resistance in sepsis care.
Session 4: Updates in Sepsis Science
- Dr. Liz Bridges delivered an impactful presentation, Sepsis Research Update: Considerations for All Care Settings, reviewing recent advancements in sepsis research and their implications for clinical practice across diverse healthcare environments.
Session 5: Sepsis Survivorship
- Sepsis survivor Hailey Bain shared her inspiring personal story in Journey to Sepsis Survivorship: Patient Perspective, offering a powerful reminder of the long-term impacts of sepsis.
- Dr. Mark Mikkelsen presented Sepsis Aftercare: Improving the Lives of Sepsis Survivors, discussing ongoing efforts to enhance post-sepsis care and recovery.
- Dr. Stephanie Taylor highlighted Sepsis Transition and Recovery (STAR): Nurse Navigators Delivering Best Practice Post-Discharge Care, explaining the role of nurse navigators in supporting sepsis survivors during their recovery journey.
Panel discussions throughout the day emphasized the need for global collaboration, innovative research, and comprehensive education to overcome barriers to sepsis care. The speakers emphasized the need for sustained efforts to improve healthcare systems and policies worldwide, particularly in resource-constrained environments globally.
Sepsis Forum is a collaboration between Sepsis Canada, the Pacific Northwest Sepsis Conference, Action on Sepsis, and the BC Sepsis Network, with the goal of enriching this space with more voices from science, providers, and survivors.