As we mark World Sepsis Day, the Morrison Government has announced $1.5 million in funding to combat this devastating condition.
Sepsis is a life-threatening illness caused by your body's response to an infection. Your immune system protects you from many illnesses and infections, but it's also possible for it to go into overdrive in response to an infection.
The infection can affect anyone. An estimated 18,000 Australian adults are diagnosed with sepsis each year and around 5,000 will die.
Sepsis develops when the chemicals the immune system releases into the bloodstream to fight an infection, cause inflammation throughout the entire body instead.
World Sepsis Day aims to unite people worldwide in the fight against sepsis, and raise awareness of one of the biggest causes of preventable deaths worldwide.
The Morrison Government is committed to supporting early detection and treatment of sepsis in the community.
As a first step, the Government will work with the George Institute for Global Health and the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care, to determine the most effective means of delivering improved sepsis outcomes in Australia, including through the development of clinical guidance.
This funding will also support a targeted communication and awareness campaign, to improve the identification, diagnosis and treatment of sepsis.
It is critical to ensure all Australian governments work in partnership with health professionals to improve awareness, diagnosis and early treatment of sepsis, and to minimise the severity of the condition.
Our Government is committed to improving health outcomes for all Australians in all health care settings.
