X.2.PK.1. Beyond the emergency: Re-framing Sepsis as a Whole-System Challenge from Community to Recovery
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Background Sepsis is a leading cause of mortality and a major public health challenge. Hospital mortality remains high (15-17%), rising to 40-45% in septic shock. Survivors face long-term complications, reduced quality of life, and increased risk of reinfection. Ageing populations, frailty, and antimicrobial resistance further increase the burden. Notwithstanding extensive research, there have been limited clinical breakthroughs in the last 30 years, and mortality rates remain unchanged. Despite advances in acute care, the current hospital-centred approach is insufficient. Sepsis must be reframed as a whole-system challenge spanning prevention, early detection, acute care, and recovery. The Paradigm Shift: This workshop proposes a shift from viewing sepsis as an acute clinical event to a continuous, system-level condition beginning and ending in the community. Drawing on reforms in Portugal (Local Health Units integrating primary and hospital care) and a Lisbon pilot, we show how combining clinical data, system indicators, and co-produced insights from professionals, patients, and communities can improve outcomes and system performance. Round Table Discussion Themes: This round table will engage participants in designing actionable, cross-disciplinary strategies across four critical pillars of the sepsis continuum:1. Community-Based Prevention: Redefining surveillance and early detection as shared public health responsibilities. Discussions will focus on strategies for patient education, early infection detection, vaccination advocacy, and promoting public sepsis awareness.2. Integrated Data for Early Detection: Breaking down data silos. We will explore how integrating data streams from primary care, emergency medical systems, and public health entities can enable earlier clinical action and early hospital sepsis, thereby reducing both mortality and overall health system strain. 3. Post-Sepsis Recovery and Advanced Care Planning: Addressing the long-term trajectory of sepsis survivors through unified care and ethical foresight. Discussions will centre on seamless transitions between hospital and community care to manage long-term complications. Crucially, this pillar also explores a priori goals of care with patients, ensuring both recovery and any future acute episodes are managed with clear, shared expectations.4. System-Wide Learning Culture: Integrating education and implementation science tools. We will explore how feedback loops from system data can inform continuous training and shared clinical protocols. The goal is to dissolve boundaries between primary and hospital care, forging a unified safety culture that prioritizes proactive prevention and early recognition. Added Value This round table brings together clinical, public health, and system perspectives to co-develop actionable, cross-sector strategies. It emphasises integration across the care continuum and aligns with health system resilience and preparedness priorities. Key messages • Sepsis prevention starts in the community: surveillance and early recognition are public health responsibilities. • Integrating primary care, EMS, and public health data enables earlier action, reducing mortality and system strain. Speakers/Panellists Paul Barach Thomas Jefferson, ASPHER, APHEA, Chapel Hill, USA Ricardo Mexia INSA - National Health Institute Doutor Ricardo Jorge, Lisboa, Portugal
Author: Susana Fernandes
Language: English
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,181
OpenAlex ID: W7223679524