Interview conducted by Aimee MolineuxSep 23 2022 Thought LeadersDr. Ron DanielsFounder and Chief ExecutiveUK Sepsis TrustAs part of Sepsis Awareness Month, celebrated annually in September, News Medical speaks to Dr. Ron Daniels, founder and chief executive of the UK Sepsis Trust, about the significance of sepsis awareness, support for patients, and improving outcomes for sepsis survivors.
In terms of how we recognize it, sepsis can be very difficult to recognize. It can develop in many people insidiously, with patients slowly deteriorating over a period of sometimes 72 to 96 hours. It can develop in people of any age, and it can arise as a consequence of any infection. So, there is no single set of criteria to look for to help us to identify sepsis. What we need is a high index of clinical suspicion.
Sepsis can be difficult to spot because of the array of symptoms it can cause. Do you have any advice regarding how individuals can more easily recognize the symptoms of sepsis? The key to sepsis is to be aware that infections can, in some cases, give rise to sepsis, and to know where to look for the symptoms. The first piece of advice is to trust your instinct.
Can you tell us more about the relationship between sepsis and SARS-CoV-2? Related StoriesSo, because we have agreed that sepsis is the way the body responds to infection, causing organ damage, we can look at what has happened to those people who are most severely ill with SARS-CoV-2 infection. With COVID-19, it is very clear that in severe cases, particularly those who have needed intensive care, this is sepsis.
Step one is preventing as many cases as we can. Step two is around heightening awareness among the general public in all countries. This should not just be in high-income countries. Most of those deaths, rather nearly half of those deaths in poorer countries, are children. So, it is vital that governments educate their populations as set out in the World Sepsis Declaration and the WHO Resolution on Sepsis.
What is next for the UK Sepsis Trust? Do you have any exciting projects coming up? We are all aware that we are entering a challenging landscape for any small business or nonprofit organization. We have to innovate. We have to modernize in order to deliver the care to our patients that we desperately need.
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