World Sepsis Day

                               

The word sepsis was first coined by Hippocrates (c. 460–370 BCE).

• It derives from the ancient Greek verb σῆψις (sēpsis), meaning “putrefaction” or “decay.”

• Hippocrates used the term in his writings within the Hippocratic Corpus to describe the process of flesh rotting, wounds festering, and systemic illness linked to decomposition.

                                                         Sepsis Dates Back Over 2000 Years 

Modern Definition 

 Modern Definitions

• 1991 – Sepsis-1 (ACC/SCCM Consensus): Defined as SIRS (Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome) + infection.

• 2001 – Sepsis-2: Expanded clinical criteria but still SIRS-based.

• 2016 – Sepsis-3: Current definition →

  “Life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection.”

  • Introduced SOFA (Sequential Organ Failure Assessment) score.

  • Sepsis differentiated from uncomplicated infection; septic shock more clearly defined.

Current Events 

Snapshot