Infection prevention and control
Located within the Integrated Health Services (IHS) department, the IPC Unit provides technical leadership and coordination of the infection prevention and control work at WHO headquarters.
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Sepsis

Sepsis

WHO / Mukhsin Abidjanov
AMR testing at a laboratory in Dushanbe, Tajikistan
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Improving the prevention, diagnosis and clinical management of sepsis

To combat this important global health threat, WHO responded with a WHO Secretariat Report and, in May 2017, the Seventieth World Health Assembly adopted Resolution WHA70.7 on Improving the prevention, diagnosis and clinical management of sepsis. 

The key pillars of Resolution WHA 70.7 were to: 

  1. Develop WHO guidance on sepsis prevention and management
  2. Support Member States to define standards and establish guidelines, infrastructure, laboratory capacity, strategies, and tools for reducing incidence of, and morbidity and mortality due to sepsis. 
  3. Draw attention to public health impacts of sepsis and estimate the global burden of sepsis.
  4. Collaborate with UN organizations, partners, international organizations and stakeholders to enhance sepsis treatment and infection prevention and control including vaccinations.

Progress and achievements

Highlights and news

Sepsis survivors raising global awareness of sepsis at Walk the Talk 2024

The Global Sepsis Alliance in cooperation with the WHO IPC unit were proud to be with Sepsis survivors, Shahrzad Kiavish, a triathlete and Iranian Refugee raised in Sweden, and Krista Bracke, a journalist from Belgium, at the Walk the Talk, Health for All challenge, on Sunday, May 26, 2024. Both survived sepsis some years ago, but with irreversible consequences such as double below-knee amputations. They met Dr Tedros, WHO Director General and Pau Gasol, childhood obesity control champion and six-time NBA All-star at the event. We are inspired by Shahrzad’s and Krista’s determination to raise global awareness for sepsis and greatly appreciate their participation in this year’s Walk the Talk event.

Walk the talk sepsis

World Sepsis Day - September 13th

 

Launch of Global Sepsis Agenda – 2030 and World Sepsis Day 2024

Global Sepsis Alliance launches the Global Sepsis Agenda- 2030 at the German Parliament before Global Sepsis Day 2024

The Global Sepsis Alliance is proud to announce the historical launch of the Global Sepsis Agenda- 2030 on September 10th at the German parliament. This is a hybrid event and will be streamed on YouTube, taking place before World Sepsis Day (WSD) on September 13th.

World Sepsis Day

Every year WSD events in all parts of the world raise awareness for sepsis worldwide. There are events for medical professionals, sport activities, photo exhibitions, pink picnics, gala events, dinners, public events such as open houses in hospitals and health care facilities, and online events such as the ‘World Sepsis Day Conference Minutes Matter’ on September 12th, as well as campaigns on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. As a World Sepsis Day patron, WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has recorded a video message to highlight the importance of sustained action to address sepsis. 

World Sepsis Day 2024 website

Global Sepsis Agenda 2030
Launch of 2030 Global Agenda for Sepsis and World Sepsis Day 2024

Latest publications

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In vitro diagnostic tests for serious bacterial infection, including neonatal sepsis, among infants aged 0–59 days: target product profile
25 July 2025

In vitro diagnostic tests for serious bacterial infection, including neonatal sepsis, among infants aged...

An estimated 2.3 million newborns die each year. Low- and middle-income countries bear the greatest mortality burden, with sepsis contributing 15%. It...

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WHO recommendations for management of serious bacterial infections in infants aged 0–59 days
8 December 2024

WHO recommendations for management of serious bacterial infections in infants aged 0–59 days

The World Health Organization (WHO) has developed guidelines for the management of infants aged 0-59 days with serious bacterial infections (sepsis, meningitis,...

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WHO recommendations on choice of antiseptic agent and method of application for preoperative skin preparation for caesarean section
18 June 2021

WHO recommendations on choice of antiseptic agent and method of application for preoperative skin preparation...

The recommendations in this document thus supersede the previous WHO recommendations for choice of antiseptic agent and method of application for preoperative...

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