Sepsis: The deadliest health condition in the world

Sepsis is the body's extreme response to an infection and is a life-threatening medical emergency. In sepsis, the body overreacts to the infection, triggering overwhelming inflammation and blood clotting within organs eventually shutting them down. The longer you wait to get appropriate treatment with antibiotics, the more likely you are to end up in an intensive care unit. Without treatment, death can occur within hours.

A surprise to many, sepsis is the deadliest health condition in the world, killing more people globally than cancer. In 2017, the World Health Organization (WHO) identified sepsis as a "global health priority" urging member states, like Canada, to take action. 

To read the full story visit the Canadian Institute of Health Research website, here.