The Centre For Maternal, Fetal, Newborn and Child Health Care at the University of Pretoria has announced that it will join the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Maternal and Neonatal Sepsis Initiative, which aims to accelerate the reduction of preventable maternal and neonatal deaths related to sepsis by participating in the Global Maternal Sepsis Study (GLOSS).

Every pregnant (or recently pregnant) woman and newborn baby is at risk of an infection that could trigger sepsis. Maternal sepsis continues to be a leading cause of death for women and newborns. Infections are the primary cause of about 35,000 maternal deaths. Sepsis can contribute to up to 100,000 maternal deaths. Sepsis kills more than 1 million newborns. Although sepsis is life-threatening, it can be stopped if identified early and treated promptly. Reducing maternal mortality and ending preventable deaths of newborns are essential to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 3.

The WHO has launched the Global Maternal and Neonatal Sepsis Initiative to tackle this critical condition and foster alignment, collaboration, research, innovation and advocacy efforts globally. In the first instance, WHO has developed a standardised definition of maternal sepsis to bring it in line with the current understanding of sepsis in the adult population: 'Maternal sepsis is a life-threatening condition defined as organ dysfunction resulting from infection during pregnancy, child-birth, or a post-abortion or post-partum period.'

GLOSS is a global study that will test and validate this new definition in 54 countries, identifying women with infection over the course of 7 days between 28 November and 4 December 2017. Data collected from this study will be used to assess the burden and current management of maternal and early neonatal sepsis.

'Sepsis is an ever-present challenge in every hospital, but we have the opportunity to save the lives of women and babies in our care by working together to stop it. We are pleased to be partnering with WHO to tackle this life-threatening condition on a global scale. By participating in GLOSS, we will ensure that vital data from South Africa are included in this important study,' said Prof Bob Pattinson, Director of the Centre.

'The World Health Organization recognises the urgent need to pay more attention to this life-threatening but not-so-well-known condition,' said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General of the WHO. 'We hope that the results of this study will improve our understanding of the prevalence of maternal sepsis, and how it is prevented and treated around the world.'

Visit Research Matters to read more about the amazing work being done by the team at the Centre For Maternal, Fetal, Newborn and Child Health Care at the University of Pretoria.