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.

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.

Elia was at a ski camp in Davos with his school class from 20.03.-23.03.23. On March 21, he celebrated his 14th birthday with his classmates at the ski camp. Because we couldn’t celebrate his birthday with him, we sent him a special cake. Everything went very smoothly and without incident. When the class returned on 23.03.23, I noticed that Elia had a slight cough, at the time I didn't think anything of it. The next day I took him to his training in Italy for the Swiss karting championship. Elia was one of Switzerland's greatest young talents and two-time runner-up.

While doing his laps, he occasionally mentioned having trouble swallowing. Because of this, he took a painkiller, which helped him a lot. That evening, we returned home.

On Saturday, Elia developed a fever between 38.1 and 38.5°C. I gave him a painkiller to ease both the fever and his difficulty swallowing. In the afternoon, he told me he wanted to go to Wohlen to see the new surface of his home track. Since he no longer had a fever, I agreed. It was raining, so I told him I would wait in the car. He got out, walked the track, and came back excited, raving: "Mum, the track is going to be fast! I can hardly wait to do my first laps!"

We returned home. On Sunday, we celebrated Elia's birthday with family and took photos with everyone. Looking at the photos, it's impossible to imagine the tragedy that happened less than 24 hours later.

On the night of March 26, 2023, to March 27, 2023, I woke up to Elia's severe coughing fits and went to check on him. At this point, he had developed a fever of over 39 degrees and I thought to myself that he must have caught the flu. I told him that he would probably have to stay home, but that we would check again in the morning before school started.  

The next morning, his temperature was still high, and he had severe aching limbs. Again, I assumed it was the flu and gave him antipyretic and pain-relieving medication. He stayed in bed while I worked from home.

Once the medication started to take effect, Elia took a lukewarm shower. But shortly afterward, just before noon, he suddenly began crying in pain, his breathing loud and noticeably strained. When he lay at my feet, crying and begging me to take him to a doctor, I became worried. Since the pediatrician was ill and my family doctor couldn’t see him until the evening, we had no choice but to go to the hospital in Baden. 

Once there, I had to take Elia to the pediatric emergency department in a wheelchair as he was in pain and could neither walk nor talk. We weren’t exactly welcomed warmly; instead, I was treated as if I had brought him in for nothing more than a simple fever. In the treatment room, Elia was given medication for his fever and pain, and we were told to wait for it to take effect. At first, he felt better, but then, all of a sudden, he told me his pain was a 9 on a scale of 1 to 10. I rang the bell, but it took another half an hour before both the assistant and senior doctor finally entered the room. 

Previously, Elia had only been examined by the assistant doctor, who told me that Elia's pain, which radiated into his abdomen, was typical in children with pneumonia. 

At this point, Elia was too cramped with pain for further examinations. The senior doctor, who hadn't even examined Elia, told me that his blood had been diagnosed with influenza B and that his chest and back pain was muscle pain that came as a result of the coughing. (But Elia didn't even cough in hospital). They sent us home and told us that if his condition didn't improve, I was to give him Novalgin in addition to other medication. Before the very eyes of the two doctors, I took my very sick son, put him in a wheelchair, and left the hospital. Neither of the doctors thought this was unusual.

As his condition made it impossible for him to walk himself, I had to get our car from the parking garage and drive to the emergency entrance to pick him up. We drove home with the diagnosis of influenza B.

At that moment I trusted the doctors, in hindsight a fatal mistake for which I hate myself all over again.

We returned home around 5 p.m. on March 27, 2023. At around 6:30-7 pm, Elia was sitting at the dining table with his father while I was in the kitchen. My husband asked me to come in for a moment because Elia had blood in his mouth. At first, I thought he had torn his lips, as he was constantly breathing through his mouth. I wiped his lips, applied ointment to his lips, and went back into the kitchen. My husband called me back again as the blood in his mouth was back. I thought the bleeding was caused by his braces.

He rinsed his mouth with water, and I saw that the blood was accumulating in his mouth again. Elia went to lie down in his room and as he was coughing, he spat up a lot of blood. We immediately called the ambulance and took Elia to the sofa in the living room. When the paramedics examined him, it was immediately clear that something was wrong with his lungs. Elia's breathing sounded like you were blowing air into a glass of water with a straw. I was with him in the ambulance and he was immediately given oxygen and an infusion. We then went back to the hospital in Baden. There were about 10 people around my son in the pediatric emergency room, but it seemed as if no one knew exactly what was wrong with him or what to do. Suddenly we were told we had to go to the shock room in the emergency ward.

The chaos only continued from here on. Elia continued to spit blood while fully conscious and angrily asked: “How much longer? When do I get to go home?!” I had no other chance to stand in a corner holding his jacket in my hand and to watch and observe...

My husband said to Elia, “Don't worry, everything will be fine! Are you scared?” To which Elia's last words in life were, “Yes, Daddy, I'm scared!”

Shortly after, we received the news that we had to take a helicopter to the children's hospital in Zurich immediately. At that moment I realized that it was life-threatening if the helicopter had to come. But there were no helicopters available and we would have to go by ambulance. So that's what we did. When we arrived about 20 minutes later and they took Elia out on the stretcher, it was the last time I saw my son half-conscious.

They rushed him into the shock room, and the last thing I heard was someone shouting, “Cut his pants open!” A nurse quickly approached us, explaining that Elia was being resuscitated and urging us to follow her to the waiting room. There was nothing we could do but sit and wait, consumed by fear and uncertainty. We had no idea what was happening to our child—whether he was stable, critical, or even still alive. Eventually, we were told that Elia had been resuscitated multiple times and that his only hope was the ECMO machine, a device that takes over the functions of the heart and lungs. At that moment, the only thing that mattered to us was that he had survived. Before he was transferred to the intensive care unit, we were allowed to see him briefly in his room. This site is etched in my memory. I no longer recognized my child. He was wired up with over 20 infusions and had spots everywhere due to the sepsis and blood clotting. I didn't dare touch him at all. He was then transferred to the intensive care unit. On March 28, 2023, we were finally informed of Elia's diagnosis.

He suffered a septic shock due to a superinfection caused by influenza B. Bacterial pneumonia was also diagnosed on the evening of March 27, 2023. The doctors told us that there was nothing more they could do for him at that moment, even though they were in constant communication with other countries. They told us that Elia was the sickest child in the whole of Switzerland. We stayed with Elia the whole day, talking to him and showing him videos of his kart races, to which he even reacted to with his pulse. This gave us, the parents, a brief moment of hope. The next morning, we were called into a room where three doctors and a counselor were already waiting for us. We were told that the sepsis had already destroyed both of Elia's legs and that they would have to be amputated in order to save him. However, in order to carry out the operation, his condition would have to become more stable and the next 24 hours would have to show that. We were devastated... My mind was racing with thoughts, each piece of news worse than the last. There was no time to process even one of them. I knew that in that moment, it no longer mattered what I wanted—only what was best for our son. The amputation of both legs and possibly his hands—how could a teenager cope with that?

Both were his tools in sports—everything he relied on would be gone. On top of that, we didn’t know whether he had suffered any damage from the resuscitation. My last thought that evening was of my son. I said to him: "Elia, I understand if you want to let go. It’s okay." For some reason, after that, I fell asleep.

On March 30, 2023, we received the worst news any parent could ever hear: Our son was going to die. There was nothing more they could do for him, as his condition had not improved.

As parents, we were paralyzed. I couldn’t even cry properly—there are no words to describe it. It’s a feeling of complete helplessness, nausea, and total collapse.

On March 31, 2023, just ten days after his 14th birthday and on the opening day of the Swiss Kart Championship, our beloved son Elia passed away at 9:15 AM, with us by his side.

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To honor his legacy, his family has created the Trofeo Elia Epifanio, a karting race that not only celebrates his love for motorsport but also raises awareness about sepsis and the importance of early diagnosis. All proceeds from the event go to Kinderspital Zürich (Zurich Children's Hospital) to support other children and families.

We invite you to learn more about Elia’s story and the mission behind this event:

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The article above was written by Jennifer Epifiano 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.

Join us for the International Symposium “Overcoming Silos by Synergizing the Fight Against Sepsis and AMR”, taking place on Friday, February 28, 2025, from 14:00 to 18:00 CET live from Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin.

Sepsis and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) are closely linked—yet too often discussed separately. To effectively fight both, they must be addressed as part of a unified strategy in global and national health policies.

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 will bring together leading experts, policymakers, and survivors to explore the intersection of sepsis and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and advance global solutions for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.

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Highlights include:

• Exclusive keynote by Bill Pullman – we are honored to welcome Bill Pullman, actor, filmmaker, and AMR Ambassador, who will share why he is personally committed to raising awareness and advocating for stronger action against sepsis and AMR.

• Survivor and Family perspectives – showcasing the life-changing impact of sepsis

• Cutting-edge discussions on prevention, AI, Vaccination, and treatment approaches

Be part of the movement to save lives and shape the future of sepsis and AMR research – wherever you are. Join us in person in Berlin or tune in via the free livestream on YouTube.

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Register Now

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Contact Us

For any questions on the event, or if you are a member of the media looking to cover it, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We’ll get back to you promptly.