Researchers Urge Canada to Implement National Sepsis Action Plan

A team of researchers has identified critical shortcomings in sepsis policies and training standards across Canada, calling for a comprehensive national action plan to tackle this pressing health issue. Sepsis, the body’s extreme response to infection, remains a leading cause of death globally, as highlighted by the World Health Organization (WHO). Recent reports from Ontario have drawn attention to the alarming number of sepsis-related deaths, sparking discussions about the need for improved hospital protocols.

The call for action is underscored by a resolution from the World Health Assembly (WHA) in 2017, which urged member states to establish standards and guidelines for the prevention, early diagnosis, and management of sepsis. While some countries, such as the United Kingdom and Australia, have since developed national action plans, Canada has yet to take similar steps. According to Dr. Kali Barrett, a critical care physician based in Toronto and an affiliate scientist with the Health Services and Policy Research Collaborative Centre at the University Health Network, the country has significant work ahead to fulfill the WHA’s recommendations.

“We’re trying to get governments’ support and recognition that this is a public health emergency,” Dr. Barrett stated. Alongside her colleagues, she conducted a literature review examining existing sepsis policies nationwide. Their findings indicate that most provinces, including Ontario, lack sepsis-specific policies and guidelines, and they noted deficiencies in training and hospital accreditation standards.

The research is set to be published in the forthcoming issue of the Canadian Journal of Anesthesia. When CBC Toronto inquired last month about the absence of uniform standards for assessing and treating sepsis, the Ministry of Health refrained from providing specific answers. Instead, it stated that it “expects every hospital to uphold the highest standard of patient care.”

Gaps in Training Standards Highlighted

Dr. Barrett emphasizes that a national action plan must coordinate efforts across various government levels to enhance sepsis recognition and treatment while also improving public education. Although healthcare is primarily under provincial jurisdiction, there are measures the federal government can implement to support a unified approach to sepsis prevention and management. This includes establishing new accreditation and training standards for hospitals.

The review revealed that many healthcare professionals—from physicians to midwives and paramedics—do not include sepsis recognition and treatment in their specific learning objectives. Dr. Barrett described the lack of training standards as “alarming,” given that any medical professional could encounter sepsis and timely treatment is crucial for survival.

Fatima Sheikh, a PhD candidate at McMaster University and co-author of the research, supports the need for a coordinated action plan that prioritizes healthcare training and public awareness. She draws parallels with stroke awareness, noting that many people can identify stroke symptoms even if they cannot list all the signs. “We need to improve public awareness so that they know that sepsis is a life-threatening condition,” Sheikh said.

Proactive Policies Needed to Prevent Tragedies

Sheikh’s research also highlights the role of social determinants of health in sepsis cases, emphasizing that a significant number of infections leading to sepsis originate outside of hospital settings. Factors such as socioeconomic status, race, and gender have been linked to increased sepsis risk, underscoring the necessity for a comprehensive strategy.

The urgency for action is made clear by recent tragic cases, including a woman who died from septic shock shortly after childbirth. Her family believes that quicker medical recognition of her condition could have saved her life.

Dr. Barrett and Sheikh are concerned that without a national strategy on sepsis, more lives may be lost. “We need to get these policies in place proactively without having to wait for another tragedy and someone else to die,” Barrett stated. The researchers are hopeful that their findings will prompt governmental actions to prevent future cases and improve outcomes for those at risk of sepsis across Canada.