September is Sepsis Awareness Month and for the first time, dental practices around the UK will be getting behind the campaign. The UK Sepsis Trust (https://sepsistrust.org) and the Office of the Chief Dental Officer have worked together to produce a poster (right) which is being circulated to all of the UK’s 12,000 dental practices.

The poster is part of a drive to raise awareness of the risk of sepsis which can be described as a serious and sometimes fatal complication arising from an infection. Although rare in dentistry, there have been some cases linked to dental infection or to a visit to a clinic.

Damian Walmsley, the British Dental Association’s scientific advisor says: ‘There may be a theoretical risk in relation to invasive procedures but having untreated infections, for instance an abscess, is more likely to put people at risk.’

The Sepsis Trust campaign is being led by Melissa Mead, their project manager. Melissa began working for the campaign after her 17 month old son William died from sepsis. At the time she had never heard of it. As William died at home unexpectedly his body had to go away for a post-mortem examination.

The pathologist found that William had a left collapsed lung, an abscess in is left upper lung lobe, a pleural effusion with over 200mls of viscous fluid in his left lung cavity, pneumonia in both lungs, heavy inner and outer ear infection and sepsis.

‘Sepsis’ Melissa replied. ‘What’s that?’ She is now on a mission to make sure everyone in healthcare understands what sepsis is. It’s entirely preventable but left undiagnosed, as in William’s case, it can be fatal. An NHS Root Cause Analysis report into his death conducted by NHSE South identified 4 missed opportunities to save his life.

To read Sarah Haslam’s article explaining sepsis and the work of the Sepsis Trust in raising awareness, follow this link: https://www.nature.com/articles/bdjteam2018130.