Hon. Vytenis Andriukaitis

“By working together, we can save lives and prevent suffering caused by this devastating medical emergency”, said Vytenis Andriukaitis, MEP and ESA Patron, welcoming the Call to Action that the European Sepsis Alliance launched at its 8th Annual Meeting, hosted in the European Parliament on 19 March.

The event, taking place at the heart of European policymaking, marked a pivotal moment for sepsis advocacy in Europe. It provided a unique platform to unite healthcare professionals, policymakers, researchers, survivors, and advocacy leaders in their collective mission to improve sepsis care across the continent. As a starting point for enhanced advocacy efforts for sepsis in Europe, the meeting underscored the urgent need for coordinated action and reinforced the commitment to the 2030 Global Agenda for Sepsis.

Prof. Evangelos J. Giamarellos Bourboulis

Prof. Evangelos J. Giamarellos-Bourboulis, Chair of the European Sepsis Alliance, set the tone with a passionate keynote address. As he presented the recently published main outcomes of the European Sepsis Care Survey, he stressed the critical need for enhanced awareness and better management of sepsis within healthcare systems: “The majority of units [in Europe] do not have standardized screening; there is no standard operating procedure (SOP) for management of sepsis; 70% of the hospital have no training or quality improvement program; almost 90% of the labs have limited service just for blood cultures”.

Ricardo Baptista Leite

The call for improvement of sepsis standard of care in Europe was echoed by Prof. Konrad Reinhart, Founding President of the Global Sepsis Alliance, who urged stakeholders to move beyond fragmented efforts. “We need urgently to combine all these issues - sepsis, AMR, pandemic preparedness - in strategic holistic approaches”, he asserted, highlighting the need for integration of sepsis in health systems and for collaboration.

One of the most inspiring contributions came from Hon. Ricardo Baptista Leite, President of the UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health, who called for legislative backing to sustain progress. Pointing to the importance of embedding sepsis into policy frameworks, he exhorted the European policymakers of this mandate to take responsibility and action: "We cannot let this mandate end without a European Sepsis Plan with clear actions clear resources, clear metrics that we can measure in terms of results".

Dr. Mariam Jashi

Dr. Mariam Jashi, CEO of the Global Sepsis Alliance, laid out the potential of the 2030 Global Agenda for Sepsis, advocating for Europe to take a leading role. “By setting clear targets and benchmarks, Europe can demonstrate global leadership in combating sepsis”, she explained, echoing Hon. Baptista Leite in challenging policymakers to seize the opportunity.

Shahrzad Kiavash (left) and Marianne Haverkamp

The panel discussion moderated by Dr. Ron Daniels, CEO of the UK Sepsis Trust, offered a diverse range of perspectives, highlighting both personal and professional insights, converging on the importance of awareness, education, and patient involvement in the fight against sepsis. Survivor and triathlete Shahrzad Kiavash shared her story of suffering and resilience, calling for public awareness: “Survivors like me are living proof that better care saves lives”. Adding an essential perspective, Marianne Haverkamp, Co-Chair of the ESA Patient and Family Support WG and of the GSA Global Sepsis Survivor and Families Committee, shared her personal journey of overcoming sepsis and how living with the aftermath of sepsis is a constant challenge, also for families.

Prof. Djillali Annane

Prof. Djillali Annane’s opinion is that “if we failed to solve the issue of sepsis for so many decades, it is because we did not listen to patients and their families and the most important thing to win that battle is to know better that enemy and to listen to those were exposed to it”.

Responding to the perspective of survivors, Prof. Maurizio Cecconi from Humanitas University and Past President of the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine (ESICM), stressed the importance of education at all levels, to improve early detection and treatment, echoed by Prof. Jan De Waele, current ESICM President, who reflected on the role of professional organizations in bringing awareness beyond the ICU, as sepsis happens mainly in the community and its effects affect people also after hospital discharge.

Dr. Nora Lüthi

The importance of awareness and education was also reiterated by Dr. Nora Lüthi, Medical Programme Manager for the Sepsis Plan in Switzerland: “It was very clear that we had to prioritize sepsis awareness, education of the public and of healthcare workers, that we should promote research, and post sepsis support for survivors and family members, and then issue and develop standardized protocols for early detection and treatment.”

Very much appreciated was the attendance by remote of two key stakeholders which should have a key role in the near future when it comes to sepsis treatment and preparedness. Marco Cavaleri confirmed the commitment of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) to accelerating access to innovative treatments and underscored the need for regulatory frameworks that support innovation. Meanwhile, Raquel Rodríguez Alonso from the Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA) of the European Commission, recognized the importance of sepsis as a critical concern, and presented the work of HERA in making sure that medical countermeasures are in place across European countries, also to prevent and treat infections.

Dr. Ron Daniels, Prof. Jan De Waele, Prof. Antonio Artigas, Prof. Maurizio Cecconi

Prof. Antonio Artigas, Professor of Intensive Care Medicine at the Autonomous University of Barcelona, while presenting the progress made in sepsis management in Catalunya, thanks to a regional action plan, he also elaborated on the clinical challenges associated with sepsis diagnosis and treatment. He noted that the complexity of sepsis requires a multifaceted approach, integrating early diagnosis, advanced treatment options, and continuous education for healthcare professionals.

The meeting concluded with a strong call for continued collaboration and political will. The European Sepsis Alliance, together with the stakeholders who joined the event, will continue engaging with policy makers, further sharing the Call to Action “ Stop Sepsis, the leading cause of preventable deaths and disability in Europe”, and advocating for a European and National Sepsis Plans, with awareness, education, early detection, research and patient support at their core.

Madrid, March 12, 2024 – The Sepsis Code Foundation (Fundación Código Sepsis - Spain) has awarded its Sepsis Code Award 2025 to Marianne Haverkamp in recognition of her dedication to the fight against sepsis and her tireless efforts to improve awareness, diagnosis, and treatment of this serious disease.

The award ceremony took place on March 12 at the La Princesa University Hospital in Madrid, as part of the 8th Multidisciplinary and International Sepsis Code Meeting. This international scientific event focuses on updating and critically analyzing strategies for the diagnosis and management of sepsis. Bringing together relevant experts from different specialties, this meeting seeks to promote the implementation of protocols based on the best available evidence.

A Story of Resilience and Commitment

After surviving a severe case of sepsis, Marianne Haverkamp (Co-chair of the Patients & Family workgroups of GSA and ESA) turned her personal experience into a mission to save lives. She founded Sepsisinfo.es, a pioneering initiative in Spain dedicated to informing and supporting both patients and healthcare professionals in the detection and treatment of sepsis. Through educational campaigns, the development of informational materials, and collaboration with medical institutions, she has made a significant impact on the healthcare community.

Her impact has reached far beyond Spain. Her participation in international forums has been instrumental in strengthening medical protocols and raising global awareness of the importance of early intervention for this life-threatening disease, which affects millions of people every year.

A Recognition Backed by Experts

The Sepsis Code Award jury consisted of renowned experts in the field, including Dr. Marcio Borges, Dr. José Barberán, Dr. Ricard Ferrer, Dr. Miguel Salavert, Dr. Pablo Vidal, and Dr. Rafael Zaragoza, all trustees of the Sepsis Code Foundation.

Since its creation in 2012, the Sepsis Code Foundation has worked to reduce sepsis-related mortality in Spain, improve treatment approaches, and raise awareness about the importance of early detection.

With this award, the foundation honors Marianne Haverkamp’s outstanding efforts, whose dedication has been instrumental in advancing the fight against sepsis and saving countless lives. The other winners of this year's award were the company Farmaindustria and Research and Development Group on Infection and Sepsis (GIS-ID)

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From January 13-16, 2025, the Sub-Saharan African ConsorTium for the Advancement of Innovative Research and Care in Sepsis (STAIRS) held its 2nd Annual Consortium Meeting (ACM) in Kumasi, Ghana, hosted by the STAIRS-Ghana team led by Dr John Adabie Appiah at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH). The event brought together leading researchers, clinicians, policymakers, and stakeholders dedicated to improving sepsis outcomes across sub-Saharan Africa. Hosted at the Golden Bean Hotel, the meeting provided a platform for insightful discussions, research updates, and strategic planning for the consortium’s ongoing efforts.­­­­­

About STAIRS

STAIRS is one of 6 collaborative networks funded for 5 years by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) under its Research Networks for Health Innovations in Sub-Saharan Africa (RHISSA) funding scheme. STAIRS comprises ten partners from seven countries across sub-Saharan Africa (Sierra Leone, Ghana, Nigeria, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, Ethiopia and Mozambique) and 2 German universities (Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin and Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf). By leveraging existing networks and forging new partnerships, STAIRS addresses critical gaps in sepsis epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment in resource-constrained settings of sub-Saharan Africa.

Meeting Highlights

The ACM commenced with a welcome reception at Veronique Heights Hotel on 12 January, where participants networked and set the stage for productive engagements.

The formal sessions began on 13 January with welcoming addresses from key institutional leaders, including:

• Dr Kwadwo Sarbeng (Medical Director, KATH)

• Dr Yaw Larbi (Deputy Medical Director, KATH)

• Dr Evans Ansu Yeboah (Deputy Director of Research & Development, KATH)

• Dr Fred Adomako Boateng (Ashanti Regional Director, Ghana Health Service)

• Prof Christian Agyare (Provost, College of Health Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

The meeting was then officially opened with a STAIRS Director’s Address delivered by Dr Nathan Kenya-Mugisha (Executive Director, Walimu), and followed by two keynote speakers – Prof Richard Odame Philips (Scientific Director, Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine), who shared insights on pressing global health challenges and innovations in antimicrobial resistance and sepsis management, and Prof. Niranjan "Tex" Kissoon (President, Global Sepsis Alliance), who delivered a keynote address on advancements in sepsis care and global strategies for reducing mortality.

Participants engaged in panel discussions, interactive Q&A sessions, and collaborative workshops, fostering cross-disciplinary exchange and strengthening international partnerships to advance activities with STAIRS 4 work packages, focused on:

• Research: Advancing clinical trials, epidemiological studies, and innovative diagnostics for sepsis management.

• Capacity Building: Strengthening research and clinical capacity through training, mentorship, and infrastructure development.

• Networking: Enhancing collaboration between African and international partners to promote knowledge sharing and resource mobilization.

• Policy Exchange & Research Transfer: Translating scientific findings into policy recommendations and improving sepsis care implementation across healthcare systems.

A highlight of the meeting was a session comprising research-in-progress presentations by eight STAIRS Scholars who have commenced PhD programmes at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (Liverpool), Charité – Universitätsmedizin (Berlin), Heinrich Heine University (Düsseldorf) and Ludwig Maximilian University (Munich).

The last day of the meeting included members of the African Research Collaboration on Sepsis (ARCS) and was opened by Dr Shevin Jacob (Chief Scientific Officer, STAIRS; Director, ARCS) who provided an overview of the growing network of sepsis researchers across sub-Saharan Africa. ARCS members delivered presentations on research findings from studies conducted across the sub-Saharan African network over the past 5 years, and STAIRS collaborators, African Institute for Development Policy (AFIDEP) and Uganda National Health Consumers’ Organisation (UNHCO), co-chaired sessions focused on stakeholder engagement and dissemination strategies. As part of this day, a solemn tribute to Dr Emmanuel Nsutebu (late President, African Sepsis Alliance) was delivered by Prof Kissoon; Dr Janet Diaz (Headquarters, World Health Organization) delivered a keynote speech on the World Health Organization’s initiatives to address sepsis globally and within the African region.

Overall, 53 participants attended the ACM from 14 countries, including the 8 STAIRS partner countries, Canada, Kenya, Malawi, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and United Kingdom.

The European Sepsis Alliance is thrilled to welcome you to its 8th Annual Meeting – live from the European Parliament in Brussels, starting at 14:30h CET today, March 19, 2025.

The 8th Annual Meeting of the ESA takes place under the distinguished patronage of MEP, former Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, and ESA Patron, Vytenis Andriukaitis. This year's meeting promises to be a significant occasion for discussing the urgency to include sepsis policies within the broader EU health policy context.

Following the developments and successes in global sepsis advocacy, the objective of this year's event is to engage European policymakers and stakeholders in understanding the intersection of sepsis with existing health threats and frameworks, such as Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) and pandemic preparedness strategies, the agenda of the European Health Emergency Response Authority (HERA), health management in conflict zones, to name a few. The meeting will delve into how sepsis preparedness is vital to enhance the overall public health strategy of the EU. A new European Parliament and a newly appointed European Commission provide a unique context to create the synergies needed.

Participants will have the opportunity to share best practices, engage in collaborative discussions, and propose concrete solutions that can be implemented at both national and EU levels. Your insights and experiences are invaluable to developing a cohesive approach to policy integration.

The ESA invites all members and stakeholders to join this important gathering and contribute to shaping the future of sepsis policy in Europe. Your participation is essential in advancing the dialogue on sepsis within the European health policy framework.

At just under 3 years old, my son developed a croupy cough with no fever or other concerning symptoms, so we carried on as usual. On day 5 of the cough, his cough developed a strider quality so I took him to his PCP. At the time, his oxygen level was normal and his lung sounds were good except for the cough. He was started on steroids and sent home. 

The following day he had improvement in the strider but began running low grade intermittent fevers. He continued to eat, drink, pee, poop and appear as expected. When I woke the following day but later than Carl’s usual 6am wake up call, I ran into his room and found him lethargic, working hard to breathe and had very high fever.  

He’d never had a fever that high before, I medicated him and contacted his doctor. We both hoped his breathing effort and lethargy would improve with reducing his fever. When I listened to his lungs, they were clear but his oxygen was low. After his fever had reduced, there was no improvement with his breathing so we went to see his doctor. He was given some breathing treatment and blood test were done. After 2 breathing treatments, the lungs sounds became very concerning, his breathing did not improve and his blood work showed he had a bad infection. So we went to the ER.  

In the ER, Carl was diagnosed with RSV pneumonia and asthma. Before being moved to the regular hospital room on the standard paediatric ward, I requested for respiratory therapy and for someone to come and check on him again. He was put on high flow oxygen and moved to the paediatric intensive care unit. We spent 11 hours in the ER before he got there. 

On arrival in the ICU, he was immediatley put on a BiPAP which failed to help him breathe, so he was intubated, which also failed to improve his breathing. He was then put on an oscillator which also failed to improved his breathing. During the first 4 hours in the ICU, he was put on VV-ecmo. He continued to deteriorate cardiacly and was placed on VA-ecmo. He continued to deteriorate and was given an atrial septotomy with stent (a large hole was placed between the atria of the heart) to reduce the strain on the right side of the heart, a drain cannula (VA-V) was added and he was put on an adult ECMO pump as he had already maxed out the peds pump.  

He developed a disseminated intravascular crisis in which he lost all the blood parts. He received numerous transfusions of red blood cells, platelets, plasmas, and cryo. His INR peaked at 6.6, normal is 1.  

Along with DIC, he developed pulmonary edema, total opacities, complete biventricular failure (he had no heart beat or breath sounds) liver failure, ischemic bowel with multiple bleeds, kidney injury, and ischaemic injury to both legs.

After 14 hours, he was given a broad spectrum antibiotics and was later diagnosed with MRSA pneumonia. 

 2 weeks later his heart function resolved and we were able to stop the VA-ecmo. The following 4 weeks were on a VV-V ecmo. We had to place a trach and he was eventually able to wean off ecmo. 

We spent a total of 106 days in the cardiac ICU and after amputations and skin graft surgery we were able to go home. He was still trach/vent dependent,  required tube feeds and extensive wound care. He was also still on withdrawal medications from the sedation meds he had been on.  

He was able to wean off the trach and feeding tube (6 months for each) and he’s able to walk, run, climb and play with his peers today. 

We are blessed with an almost able-bodied little boy. He has issues with chronic wounds on his salvaged foot and stump and he’s had some bone infections and surgeries because of it. He also has permanent lung damage, but it only seems to be a problem when he's sick.

The horrors of sepsis will plague me the rest of my life but I have some comfort knowing these are memories my son will have little of. Being so young had its blessings. 

I will also forever be humbled by the resilience of children. Never in my life have I seen such joy despite illness and loss.  

Hug your babies and be grateful for every day.

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The article above was written by Catherine Clark and is shared here with her explicit consent. The views in the article do not necessarily represent those of the Global Sepsis Alliance. They are not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. The whole team here at the Global Sepsis Alliance and World Sepsis Day wishes to thank her for sharing her son’s story and for fighting to raise awareness for sepsis.

The first meeting of the Global Sepsis Innovations Platform (GSIP) co-chaired by Prof. Niranjan 'Tex' Kissoon – President of the Global Sepsis Alliance and Prof. Konrad Reinhart - President of Sepsis Stiftung took place on February 20, 2025.

Co-chairs opened GSIP’s Inaugural Meeting, emphasizing the importance of multi-stakeholder discussions on Sepsis Research and Innovations. They highlighted the need for advocacy to invest in Sepsis science and expressed their gratitude to the members and partners of the GSIP for their interest in joining the initiative.

Mariam Jashi, CEO of the Global Sepsis Alliance, provided a brief overview of the GSIP’s purpose and expected outcomes. She noted, that based on the 2030 Global Agenda for Sepsis launched at the German Parliament in September 2024, GSIP aims to foster coordinated discussions and advocacy to address unmet needs in Sepsis R&D for novel vaccines, other prevention interventions, diagnostics, antimicrobial and immunomodulatory therapies, precision medicine, care and rehabilitation, and AI technologies.  She outlined the five main objectives of GSIP: 

1. Knowledge Exchange: Facilitating collaboration among innovators, researchers, healthcare professionals, Sepsis survivors, and patients’ families.

2. Regulatory Collaboration: Engaging in consensus-building discussions and formulating recommendations and position statements for sepsis innovation authorization.

3. Advocacy Coordination: Working with governments, foundations, industry, and research institutions to increase investments in Sepsis R&D.

4. Operational Research Coordination: Addressing accessibility and affordability of Sepsis-related equipment and supplies, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

5. Defining Sepsis R&D Agenda: Identifying critical research priorities, especially for LMICs, including vaccines, early detection and treatment strategies, and AI solutions.

Members and Partners of GSIP 

The GSA introduced 36 organizations that expressed interest in joining GSIP by the January 30, 2025, deadline. These members and partners represent 21 countries, including Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Germany, France, Greece, India, Israel, Mexico, Mongolia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Uganda, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

GSIP will also engage Sepsis Survivors, patients’ families, and experts from the Global Sepsis Alliance, Sepsis Stiftung, 6 Regional Sepsis Alliances from Africa, Asia-Pacific, Caribbean, Europe, Eastern Mediterranean, and Latin America, and member organizations from Canada and the United States.

Finally, GSIP members will have the opportunity to build on the work of the Sepsis Info Centre – Literature Database managed by the Sepsis Stiftung on the following link https://sepsis-stiftung.de/wissenschaft

• 10 Academic and Research Institutions joined the GSIP, including the College of Nursing and Midwifery Nigeria, Fatima Jinnah Medical University, The Hebrew University, INCLEN Trust International, International Fluid Academy, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Maulana Azad Medical College, Scientific Research Institute of Medical Problems of the North, Parul University, and Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense.

• The GSIP platform currently includes 8 Healthcare Providers, representing Coimbra Burns Unit CHUC, Heidelberg University Hospital, Hospital São Francisco Xavier, MedStar Washington Hospital Center Georgetown University, MVZ Labor Dr Limbach und Kollegen Heidelberg, Sepsis Carers, and South Gobi Hospital.

•  4 Civil Society Organizations have expressed interest in joining GSIP, including the Asociación Mexicana de Enfermeras Especializadas en Medicina Crítica y Terapia Intensiva, Physician-Patient Alliance, Regulatory Connections, and Sepsibel.

• Dr. Jashi highlighted that as of February 20, GSIP had 1 Visionary Partner – Masimo – and 3 Members from industry, including BD, bioMérieux, and Roche. Discussions are ongoing with 10 additional companies to define their membership/partnership status.

6 Working Groups of GSIP

The Global Sepsis Innovations Platform agreed to establish the following 6 Working Groups (WGs) and define membership and chairs by March 20, 2025: 

1.  Sepsis Prevention WG

2. Sepsis Diagnostics and AI WG

3. Sepsis Treatment and Care WG

4. Neonatal Sepsis WG

5. Government Relations and Regulatory WG, and

6. Sepsis Knowledge Hub 

The operational structure of GSIP ensures that decisions will be made by consensus, with official statements co-signed by the co-chair organizations, the Global Sepsis Alliance and Sepsis Stiftung. Regular bi-monthly meetings, alongside ad hoc sessions, as needed, will help maintain momentum and focus on the platform’s mission to drive change in sepsis care and research. 

The Inaugural Meeting was a promising beginning for GSIP, bringing together global experts, organizations, and advocates united in their mission to combat sepsis and improve outcomes for patients worldwide.

The Global Sepsis Alliance (GSA) and the International Fluid Academy (IFA) have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for a joint collaboration to advance education, research, and best practices in the field of Sepsis and acute care.

The partnership agreement was reached on the margins of the International Symposium on Sepsis and AMR dedicated to the visit of the renowned Actor and Filmmaker Bill Pullman hosted by the Global Sepsis Alliance and Sepsis Stiftung.

On behalf of Prof. Niranjan ‘Tex’ Kissoon, President of the Global Sepsis Alliance, Dr. Mariam Jashi, GSA’s CEO, and Prof. Manu Malbrain, President of the IFA, agreed to leverage the expertise and resources of both organizations to tackle the challenges of Sepsis management and critical care globally. The MoU outlines four major areas of cooperation between GSA and IFA:

1. Exchange of Courses and Training Programs. GSA and IFA will explore opportunities for mutual exchange of courses and training programs, focusing on Sepsis and acute care. This will include participation in the World Sepsis Congresses, webinars, and other educational initiatives designed to expand global knowledge and expertise in critical care.

2. Faculty Exchange. Both organizations will facilitate the exchange of faculty members to conduct workshops, lectures, and educational activities, ensuring a continuous exchange of knowledge and the enhancement of learning opportunities within the Sepsis and acute care fields.

3. Joint Research Projects. The GSA and IFA have agreed to explore joint research projects aimed at advancing understanding and improving the management of Sepsis and related acute care conditions. Collaborative research will play a pivotal role in driving forward evidence-based practices and innovations.

4. Knowledge Sharing. Through this agreement, GSA and IFA will share insights, best practices, and experiences within their respective areas of expertise, ensuring the dissemination of critical knowledge that will benefit healthcare professionals and improve patient outcomes worldwide.

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A Vision for Global Impact

The collaboration between GSA and IFA signals a strengthened commitment to improving Sepsis care and raising awareness of the importance of fluid management in acute care settings. The partnership aligns with both organizations' goals to educate healthcare professionals, foster innovation, and save lives by improving outcomes for patients affected by Sepsis and other medical emergencies.

The Global Sepsis Alliance, in partnership with Sepsis Stiftung, was honored to host the esteemed American Actor and Filmmaker, Bill Pullman in Berlin as part of the filming for his upcoming documentary on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) and Sepsis.

This visit was a follow-up to the AMR Symposium at the Pontifical Academy of Sciences in Vatican City, where Bill Pullman met with Prof. Konrad Reinhart, an internationally recognized Sepsis Champion, GSA’s Founding President, and the current President of Sepsis Stiftung. He also engaged with Dr. Mariam Jashi, CEO of the Global Sepsis Alliance and former Minister and Parliamentarian of Georgia.

Pullman’s mission to Berlin was supported by an outstanding production team, including award-winning director and producer Tom Donahue, producer Ilan Arboleda (co-founders of CreativeChaos), and Ukrainian cinematographer Maria Pankova. The GSA and Sepsis Stiftung wish to extend their heartfelt gratitude to the team for the excellent collaboration and dedication to raising awareness of Sepsis through the documentary.

Bill Pullman’s visit centered on raising awareness of the interlinked global health challenges posed by Sepsis and AMR. Throughout his stay, he engaged directly with patients and families impacted by Sepsis, as well as policymakers, healthcare providers, experts, and global health partners.

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Thursday, February 27

The Actor’s day began with a visit to Charité Campus Virchow-Klinikum, where – joined by Prof. Konrad Reinhart – he conducted interviews with Prof. Claudia Spies, Clinical Director of the Campus, and leading medical experts, including Dr. Björn Weiß, Dr. Karin Steinecke, and Dr. Wiltrud Abels. The discussions focused on the treatment of septic patients, with a particular emphasis on telemedicine’s role in supporting critically ill patients in other countries such as Uzbekistan, Ukraine, Uganda, and South Africa. These meetings highlighted the hospital's innovative approaches to Sepsis care. 

One of the most significant moments of the visit came when Bill Pullman met with Sepsis patients currently receiving treatment at the Intensive Care Unit at Charité. The encounter underscored the human impact of Sepsis and provided Pullman with a deeper understanding of the challenges faced both by the patients and healthcare providers.

The visit to the clinic continued in discussions with Prof. Michael Booke, who leads a pioneering Sepsis project in the Main Taunus Region. The project has trained over 1,000 community members, ambulance services, and healthcare workers, emphasizing that Sepsis should be treated with the same urgency as a heart attack or stroke.

In the afternoon, Pullman visited the GSA’s office at the Benjamin Franklin Campus, Charité University, where Mariam Jashi presented the work of the Global Sepsis Alliance, 6 Regional Sepsis Alliances for Africa, Asia Pacific, Caribbean, Europe, Eastern Mediterranean, and Latin America, and the achievements of GSA’s leaders in Canada, UK, and USA. Marvin Zick, Simone Mancini, and Katja Couball joined the CEO in presenting the 2030 Global Agenda for Sepsis, as the first global strategy to tackle Sepsis, and the two flagship initiatives of the GSA – the annual World Sepsis Congresses and the World Sepsis Day movement, which has garnered over 50,000 supporters across 180 countries.

The day concluded with a Pre-Symposium Reception hosted by Prof. Konrad Reinhart, President of Sepsis Stiftung. Here, Pullman and his production team had the opportunity to conduct interviews with Sepsis survivors, clinicians, and researchers, all of whom are contributing to the global fight against Sepsis. The highlight of the evening was a musical performance by Arne Trumann, a pianist who, after losing several fingers to Sepsis, relearned to play.

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Friday, February 28

The production team spent the morning filming at iconic Berlin landmarks such as the Brandenburg Gate and the Berlin Wall Memorial, incorporating the city’s rich cultural heritage into the documentary’s focus on global health.

Later, a working lunch was organized by the Virchow Foundation at the Berlin Global Health Collective. This session brought together prominent figures in global health to discuss the urgent need to synergize policies surrounding Sepsis and AMR. Bill Pullman conducted interviews with Dr. Georg Kippels, Member of the German Bundestag and Chair of the AMR Working Group; Prof. Detlev Ganten – Founding President of the World Health Summit and Co-founder of the Virchow Foundation, and Mr. Roland Göhde – CEO and Co-founder of the Virchow Foundation and Board Chair of the German Health Alliance. Branwen Hennig, Executive Director of the Global Health Policy Lab, and Victoria Grandsoult, Managing Director of the Virchow Foundation, also participated in valuable roundtable discussions.

International Symposium “Overcoming Silos by Synergizing the Fight Against Sepsis and AMR” followed at the Berlin Museum of Medical History, where Bill Pullman delivered a Keynote Speech about why he became committed to raising awareness and advocating for stronger action against Sepsis and AMR. Co-organized by the Global Sepsis Alliance and Sepsis Stiftung, and supported by Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berliner Medizinische Gesellschaft, the German Health Alliance, and the Virchow Foundation, this symposium brought together leading experts, policymakers, Sepsis survivors and families affected by this devastating medical emergency and innovators working on the new and more effective solutions for Sepsis prevention, early detection, therapies and AI tools. During this event, Bill Pullman participated in interviews with researchers, clinicians, and sepsis survivors, further emphasizing the importance of global collaboration to combat Sepsis and AMR.

We would like to acknowledge with special gratitude the Sepsis survivors and the family members of those who have tragically lost their lives to Sepsis. Bill Pullman and the Symposium participants had the opportunity to witness the life-changing stories that transformed into powerful voice and action in Germany, the UK and Belgium. The panelists included:      

• Youssef Kdami, father of a 2-year-old son who underwent quadruple amputation after meningococcal Sepsis

• Uwe Wiermann, Sepsis survivor and amputee, Regional Director for NRW Amputee Association

• Simon Seyfarth, triple German para-athletics champion after leg amputation and multiple surgical interventions

• Mariah McKimbrough, who had to give up her career as a musical actor due to severe physical disability caused by Sepsis

• Arne Trumann, pianist who lost several fingers to Sepsis but relearned to play music

• Ilse Malfait, who lost her legs due to delayed diagnosis of Sepsis and became a driving force behind Belgium’s National Sepsis Plan

• Merope Mills, who after the tragic and avoidable death of her daughter, campaigned for the introduction of Martha’s Rule in the UK. The rule would allow patients or their families to request a critical care review if they believe the patient’s condition is deteriorating and their concerns are not being heard.

• Kerstin Martensen, who recently lost her son to Sepsis and is now an advocate for Sepsis awareness in Germany

• Sylvia Wiermann, who stood by her husband through his coma and multiple organ failures due to Sepsis

• Marion Pfeiffer, whose husband now requires permanent intensive care at home after Sepsis and sent her video address.

Prof. Reinhart and Dr. Jashi are grateful to Prof. Joachim Spranger – Dean of the Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Prof. David Horst – Board Member of the Berlin Medical Society, Roland Göhde – CEO & Co-Founder, Virchow Foundation and Chair of the Board, German Health Alliance (GHA) and Stefan Kaufmann – Founding Director, Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology for their outstanding addresses and presentations.

On behalf of the GSA and Sepsis Stiftung, finally, we extend special thanks for the important  support and interventions on Sepsis research and innovations to Dr. Jörn Ole Vollert – Medical Director, BRAHMS Thermo Fisher, Prof. Niels Riedemann – CEO of InflaRx, Dr. Andreas Bergmann – CEO of 4TEEN4 Pharmaceuticals,  Dr. Stephan Witte – Chief Medical Officer of Adrenomed and Dr. Mehdi Dastur – Chief Medical Officer, TIPLU.  

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Saturday, March 1

The morning began with a visit to a nursing home led by Dr. Irmgard Landgraf, a Sepsis Ambassador. Bill witnessed firsthand how quality improvement initiatives implemented by Dr. Landgraf and her team have dramatically reduced Sepsis-related mortality among elderly patients – one of the most vulnerable groups to Sepsis. Prof. Konrad Reinhart and Ilona Köster-Steinebach, CEO of Sepsis Stiftung, accompanied Pullman during this visit.

Bill Pullman continued his filming and advocacy work with a visit to the German Bundestag. The actor was accompanied by Mariam Jashi, the Former Chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee and Deputy Minister of Labour, Health, and Social Affairs of Georgia.

At the German Parliament, the world-known American Actor was hosted by Prof. Andrew Ullmann, the Founding Chair of the Global Health Sub-Committee at the German Bundestag and the Chapter Char for Western and Central Europe of the UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health. Bill Pullman, Andrew Ullmann, and Mariam Jashi discussed the critical role of Parliamentarians in shaping global and national policies for AMR and Sepsis, including the launch of the 2030 Global Agenda for Sepsis. 

The highlight of the visit to Bundestag was the opportunity to interview Mariah McKimbrough, Art Director of the Sepsis Stiftung, who has experienced multiple episodes of Sepsis, had to go through more than 50 surgeries and – after meeting Prof. Konrad Reinhart, the driving force behind the Sepsis-related research and advocacy in Germany and internationally – decided to dedicate her work to awareness raising and protecting others from this medical emergency.

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Throughout his visit, Pullman highlighted the critical work being done in Sepsis care and prevention and emphasized the importance of global collaboration to address both Sepsis and AMR.

We extend our sincere admiration and gratitude to Bill Pullman for his unwavering dedication to documenting the global burden of Sepsis and AMR, and for his efforts to help save millions of lives.