CDC Director Helps Kick Off Sepsis Awareness Month in New Video

Sepsis is the body’s overwhelming and life-threatening response to an infection which can lead to tissue damage, organ failure, and death. More than 1 million cases of sepsis occur each year in the United States, and half of the patients who get sepsis will die. During the month of September, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is teaming up with patient advocates and clinical professional organizations to increase awareness of sepsis in observance of Sepsis Awareness Month.

Throughout the month, CDC will be promoting a variety of patient and clinician educational resources, including:
• Video from CDC director and World Sepsis Day ambassador, Dr. Tom Frieden, reminding patients and providers on the importance of detecting sepsis early.
• Patient fact sheets created in collaboration with the Sepsis Alliance, Rory Staunton Foundation and the CDC Foundation.
• An infographic to increase sepsis awareness among both the general public and healthcare professionals.
• Sepsis early detection and care improvement bundles from the Surviving Sepsis Campaign and the Society for Critical Care Medicine.
• Webinar on pediatric sepsis from the Children’s Hospital Association.
• CDC’s Safe Healthcare Blog Series on patient stories and clinical best practices and a Twitter chat with clinical professional organizations and patients to raise awareness on sepsis.
• A Twitter chat with clinical professional organizations and patients to raise awareness on sepsis. Join #SepsisChat hosted by @CDC_NCEZID 9/10 at 2 p.m. EST.

To learn more about sepsis, visit: www.cdc.gov/sepsis/

Source: CDC