Surviving Sepsis Campaign: international guidelines for management of sepsis and septic shock 2026

Sepsis, life-threatening acute organ dysfunction due to infection [ 1 ], is a global health priority [ 2 , 3 ] with approximately 49 million cases and 13 million sepsis-related deaths each year [ 4 , 5 , 6 ]. Beyond being acutely deadly, sepsis contributes to new and worsened physical, cognitive, and mental health problems in many survivors [ 7 , 8 ]. Early identification and treatment are critical to improving outcomes.