A sepsis awareness campaign conducted by RCSI in 2018 has supported an increase in the public’s knowledge of sepsis by 31%, according to research conducted by Behaviours and Attitudes (B&A). The findings come today as RCSI marks World Sepsis Day 2019 by turning its iconic Stephen’s Green building pink.

The RCSI sepsis awareness campaign, which ran across traditional and social media throughout 2018, aimed to increase the general public’s awareness of sepsis and to recognise the signs and symptoms of sepsis, a silent killer associated with seven deaths per day in Irish hospitals.

Sepsis awareness was also a feature of the 2018 RCSI MyHealth Public Lecture series with ‘Fighting the Silent Killer: Saving Lives from Sepsis’ garnering significant public and media interest.

71% of the population now claim to know what sepsis is following the campaign, an increase of 31%, or 632,000 people. 36% of the Irish population can now correctly describe sepsis as blood poisoning or a blood infection, an increase of 29% or 298,000 people at population level.

Adults aged between 50 and 64 years claim to have the highest awareness of sepsis, as well as those living in rural areas. Adults under the age of 25 and those living in Dublin claim to have the lowest awareness of sepsis.

Sepsis, otherwise known as blood poisoning, can occur following an infection in any part of the body. It can originate from a simple cut or graze and then spread to other organs, critically affecting their function. It is a life-threatening condition, but if it is caught early, it can be managed effectively.

A poll commissioned in early 2018 by RCSI and the Rory Staunton Foundation for sepsis prevention showed that 72% of people surveyed were not aware of sepsis, despite it being a more common cause of death than heart attack, lung cancer, or breast cancer. There were 16,312 cases of sepsis and septic shock in public hospitals in Ireland in 2017.

Commenting on World Sepsis Day, Professor Steve Kerrigan, Associate Professor in Pharmacology at RCSI and inventor of InnovoSep, a potential new breakthrough therapy in the fight against sepsis, said: “Sepsis awareness campaigns have proven extremely effective in educating the Irish public around the signs and symptoms of sepsis. Increased awareness will mean those who are potentially affected will seek medical assistance at a much earlier stage, ultimately improving the outcome and reducing the number of preventable deaths associated with this condition.

“The symptoms of sepsis mimic those of the flu, and as we approach the flu season it is critical that people know how to spot the signs and symptoms of sepsis and act appropriately. The signs and symptoms include high temperature, rapid heart rate, rapid breathing, pain, pale or mottled skin, and feeling generally very sick.

“Doctors and researchers continue their work to find ways of effectively treating sepsis, but public awareness is what will really save lives. It is critical that people learn to spot the signs and symptoms of sepsis so that they can get to the hospital and initiate treatment as soon as possible.”

Further information on sepsis, its signs, and symptoms can be found on the RCSI MyHealth app.

Further information on InnovoSep, Prof. Kerrigan’s potential breakthrough sepsis treatment, can be found here.