Contents:

(1) AMR and Sepsis as Interconnected Challenges
(2) Building Public Awareness Through Accessible Communication
(3) From First Responders to Specialists
(4) When Patients Speak Up

(1) AMR and Sepsis as Interconnected Challenges

Without effective antimicrobials, infections become harder to treat and are more likely to progress to sepsis. For this reason, antimicrobial stewardship is central to Sepsis Alliance’s mission. When antimicrobials stop working, more infections progress to sepsis, which is why Dr. Hou explains that stewardship goes well beyond choosing an antibiotic: it means selecting the right one, adjusting as new information comes in, and minimizing side effects or complications.

Sepsis Alliance also integrates AMR into its education and advocacy work, emphasizing the need for funding for antimicrobial development, investment in rapid diagnostics, and clinical training to guide responsible antimicrobial use.

Each year, the organization hosts the Sepsis Alliance AMR Conference, which convenes clinicians, researchers, patients, and policymakers to explore practical solutions for countering AMR. The event provides a platform for disseminating innovation and strengthening the link between AMR prevention and sepsis care.

Mr. Heymann and Dr. Hou also mentioned the relevance of sepsis and AMR for children, pointing out that sepsis takes more children’s lives than cancer. Neonatal sepsis is also a serious concern.

(2) Building Public Awareness Through Accessible Communication

When Sepsis Alliance was established in 2007, only 19% of Americans had heard the term sepsis. Today, awareness has increased to 75%. This progress reflects nearly two decades of consistent national outreach focused on improving public understanding of sepsis as a medical emergency. With misinformation and vaccine skepticism on the rise, patient organizations like Sepsis Alliance are essential and serve as trusted messengers in health communication. Sepsis Alliance’s awareness activities include national campaigns, educational events, and partnerships with media and healthcare organizations. Each September, the organization leads Sepsis Awareness Month, during which hospitals, professional societies, and advocacy groups conduct coordinated activities to share information about sepsis prevention and early recognition. The organization also supports World Sepsis Day and World AMR Awareness Week, integrating sepsis messaging with global efforts to address antimicrobial resistance.

Sepsis Alliance has conducted multiple surveys to better understand stakeholder awareness of AMR. Surveys consistently show a lack of understanding across global populations. This data informed the development of Sepsis Alliance’s #EndSuperbugs campaign, which aims to educate and motivate people to take action against AMR.

A distinctive feature of Sepsis Alliance’s work is its emphasis on linguistic equity and health literacy. The organization develops multilingual resources — including content in Spanish, Chinese, and Tagalog — to reach populations with limited English proficiency (LEP).

Sepsis Alliance also employs plain-language communication and the “teach-back” method, encouraging healthcare professionals to confirm patients’ understanding by asking them to explain key information in their own words. These approaches help ensure comprehension and support better outcomes. Dr. Hou emphasizes that even English speakers can struggle with medical terminology, which is precisely why plain language matters. If people cannot understand what health professionals are saying, awareness campaigns will not be effective.

(3) From First Responders to Specialists

Early surveys conducted by Sepsis Alliance showed that many healthcare providers, particularly outside critical care settings, were unfamiliar with the signs and urgency of sepsis. To address this, Sepsis Alliance launched Sepsis Alliance Institute, a free, accredited online platform that offers continuing education courses on sepsis recognition, infection prevention, and antimicrobial stewardship. More than 65,000 healthcare professionals have participated in Sepsis Alliance Institute’s programs, with approximately 1,000 new learners joining each month. Training modules are designed for a wide range of professionals, including first responders, nurses, obstetricians, oncologists, and school nurses.

Dr. Hou emphasizes the importance of comprehensive training across the healthcare system, noting that half of sepsis patients arrive by ambulance and that everyone – from first responders to specialists – needs to recognize sepsis and act quickly.

These training efforts also need to address disparities that persist across race, income, and language, since medically underserved and minority populations remain less likely to have heard of sepsis or to receive timely care. Closing this gap requires data-driven approaches, culturally competent care, and workforce diversity — including language-concordant providers and community health workers who can build trust and navigate cultural barriers.

(4) When Patients Speak Up

Patient engagement is central to Sepsis Alliance’s mission. Survivors and their families play a vital role in raising awareness, influencing policy, and shaping communication. The ongoing “Faces of Sepsis” campaign features thousands of personal testimonies, which are shared through the organization’s website, social media, and public events. These stories have helped convey the human and societal impact of sepsis and have become a primary tool for outreach and education. As Mr. Heymann explains, patients are not just recipients of care but essential advocates, and when survivors tell their stories, it changes how people think about sepsis.

Mr. Heymann and Dr. Hou also note that while anyone can get sepsis, there are more vulnerable populations, such as those who are immunocompromised or have chronic illnesses and non-communicable diseases. AMR also poses a significant risk to people living with conditions such as cancer, diabetes, cystic fibrosis, and HIV/AIDS, underscoring the need for a cross-disciplinary discussion of AMR that transcends the boundaries of individual diseases. Meanwhile, the online platform Sepsis Alliance Connect provides education and peer support to over 5,000 members, helping survivors rebuild their lives while continuing to spread awareness. As Dr. Hou puts it: “When a patient survivor speaks, it commands attention. Their experiences remind policymakers and clinicians of what’s at stake.”