In the media: Prof Andrew Udy talks sepsis on Healthy Living

Sepsis – the life-threatening condition that can strike anyone at any time – was in the spotlight this week when Professor Andrew Udy, Chief Investigator of the National Critical Care Research Collaboration (NCCR), joined Dr Ross Walker on Healthy Living.

In the interview, Professor Udy explained why sepsis is so dangerous:

“Sepsis isn’t just an infection – it’s the body’s immune system going into overdrive, damaging its own tissues and organs. That can lead to organ failure, and sadly, in many cases, loss of life.”

Each year, more than 55,000 Australians are affected by sepsis, and many survivors continue to face long-term physical and psychological impacts. Despite this, public awareness remains low and early signs are often missed.

Professor Udy stressed the importance of vigilance:

“We need to be highly alert to the possibility of sepsis. It can escalate rapidly, so early recognition and treatment are critical.”

The discussion also highlighted the launch of the Shaping Sepsis Care survey, a nationwide initiative seeking input from survivors, carers, and health professionals. The survey aims to identify the biggest gaps in sepsis awareness, communication, and care to help guide future research.

“We want to hear directly from people with lived experience — survivors, families, clinicians — about what really matters, and where care can be improved,” Professor Udy said.

Have your say. Share your experience and help shape the future of sepsis care.