Improving sepsis care in Africa: an opportunity for change?

Abstract

Sepsis is common and represents a major public health burden with significant associated morbidity and mortality. However, despite substantial advances in sepsis recognition and management in well-resourced health systems, there remains a distinct lack of research into sepsis in Africa. The lack of evidence affects all levels of healthcare delivery from individual patient management to strategic planning at health-system level. This is particular pertinent as African countries experience some of the highest global burden of sepsis. The 2017 World Health Assembly resolution on sepsis and the creation of the Africa Sepsis Alliance provided an opportunity for change. However, progress so far has been frustratingly slow. The recurrent Ebola virus disease outbreaks and the COVID-19 pandemic on the African continent further reinforce the need for urgent healthcare system strengthening. We recommend that African countries develop national action plans for sepsis which should address the needs of all critically ill patients.

The Impact of Pathogens on Sepsis Prevalence and Outcome

“…The most common virus capable of inducing sepsis in adult patients living in developed countries was the Influenza virus, with incidences ranging between 1% and almost 4% [8,9]. Especially in tropical countries, outbreaks of zoonotic viruses such as Ebola, Lassa, Marburg, Hanta, or Dengue virus can be much more prevalent [29,30]. All this, of course, was turned on its head when the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020.…”

Strengthening clinical bacteriology laboratory diagnostics to combat sepsis and antimicrobial resistance in Benin: a train-the-trainer approach

“…Neonatal sepsis is the third leading cause of neonatal death worldwide, particularly in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs), with many of the deaths attributed to AMR (5-8). Africa is the most affected continent where many endogenous factors and the increasing prevalence of AMR complicate the treatment of sepsis (6,(9)(10)(11). Furthermore, reliable diagnostic laboratory testing is not readily accessible in sub-Saharan Africa, leading to frequent misdiagnosis (10, 12,13).…”

Assessing Predictors of Mortality Among Children admitted with Sepsis at a Referral Tertiary Health Center, Northwestern Nigeria

“…In 2017, children accounted for half of all sepsis cases worldwide, with an estimated 20 million cases and 2.9 million fatalities in under 5yrs children. An estimated 17 million of these cases and 3.5 million of the deaths occurring in Africa [9] [10] . Sepsis also accounts for 15% of neonatal deaths, and is the most common cause of death in infants globally.…”