Sepsis treatment breakthrough could save thousands

Scientists have made a breakthrough in the fight against sepsis, a life- threatening condition that claims thousands of lives every year.

Researchers at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland discovered a drug that prevents the deadly disease from spreading throughout the body.

Up to 60% of all hospital deaths in Ireland in 2013 had a sepsis or infection diagnosis. There were 9,000 diagnosed cases of sepsis and the mortality rate at the time had been 28.8% — almost 3,000 deaths.