Specialists at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City urge public to raise Sepsis awareness on World Sepsis Day - September 13

“Every Few Seconds, Someone Dies of Sepsis,” Expert Warns

SKMC Leads Public Awareness Activities at Mushrif Mall

Abu Dhabi, 13th Sep. 2013: As part of World Sepsis Day, the Sheikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC), managed by Cleveland Clinic, and owned and operated by the Abu Dhabi Health Services Company PJSC (SEHA), has organised an awareness campaign about sepsis. The campaign will be delivered on Friday 13 September at Mushrif Mall, Abu Dhabi, in order to coincide with World Sepsis Day. Caregivers from SKMC will be resident at Mushrif Mall from 4-8pm to increase awareness and understanding of sepsis among the Abu Dhabi community.

Dr. Ali Abdul Kareem Al-Obaidli, Chief Clinical Officer, SEHA, said that this campaign will contribute to the framework of SEHA's strategy aimed at reducing the incidence of sepsis. This framework is carried out in accordance with the highest international standards, and through the application of best medical practices.

Al-Obaidli urged members of the public to be alert to the symptoms of sepsis which occur when an infection travels through the human body. Sepsis is more likely to occur in those that are old or bedridden, have had recent surgery, have thin tubes such as catheters in their bodies, or those whose immune systems have become weak.

“Not many people are fully aware of the symptoms of sepsis, which include fever, chills, rapid heartbeat and problems with breathing, as well as confusion and cold, clammy skin. If not treated quickly, sepsis can become severe and dangerous,” said Dr. Hubert Hon, Chair of Critical Care Medicine at SKMC.

“Sepsis is a medical emergency, and we need to ensure the public are well aware of the signs and dangers associated with this illness. Despite its remarkable incidence, sepsis is practically unknown to the public and is often misunderstood as blood poisoning,” added Dr. Kalpana Krishnareddy, Consultant Physician in Intensive Care at SKMC.

World Sepsis Day is an initiative of the Global Sepsis Alliance, a group of non-profit organisations dedicated to increase both public and professional awareness of sepsis. Sepsis is one of the most common deadly diseases across the globe, and is one of the few conditions that strike with equal ferocity in both resource-poor areas and the developed world.

In the developed world, sepsis has dramatically increased by an annual rate of between 8 and 13 percent over the last decade, according to the Global Sepsis Alliance. The infection now claims more lives than bowel and breast cancer combined.

Sepsis remains the primary cause of death from infection despite advances in modern medicine, including vaccines, antibiotics, and acute care. The hospital mortality rate for sepsis sufferers is estimated to be between 30 and 60 percent.