The Pediatric Sepsis Data CoLaboratory (Sepsis CoLab) is a global data-sharing network focused on reducing pediatric sepsis mortality and morbidity. Founded by the Institute for Global Health at BC Children’s Hospital and BC Women’s Hospital + Health Centre (IGH-BCCWH) and The University of British Columbia (UBC) in Vancouver, Canada, together with the World Federation of Pediatric Intensive and Critical Care Societies (WFPICCS), we aim to improve sepsis treatment and outcomes through targeted, data-driven research and quality improvement (QI) initiatives.
Every year, over 11 million people die from sepsis, primarily in low- and middle-income countries. Many of these deaths are preventable with timely, accurate data to guide individual treatment and improve hospital processes. However, in under-resourced areas, clinical data collection is often paper-based. This poses challenges to using data effectively to inform clinical decision making and QI approaches. The WHO’s first global report on sepsis, released in September 2020, highlighted how gaps in data have hindered global control efforts and reinforced the urgent need for better data practices.
The Sepsis CoLab works to address these challenges by promoting international collaboration to develop and validate tools, share knowledge, encourage innovation, and share clinical data to advance improvements in sepsis care. Through these efforts, the Sepsis CoLab is helping to create a global framework for more effective, data-driven interventions in the fight against pediatric sepsis.