Need of the hour: Rapid, affordable, & accurate tests to diagnose diseases

BLOOD stream infection (BSI) from bacteria or fungi can lead to inflammatory responses, which is one of the body's natural defence mechanisms.

- DR ALDON FERNANDES

LOOD stream infection (BSI) from bacteria or fungi can lead to inflammatory responses, which is one of the body's natural defence mechanisms. Without a timely clinical intervention, dysregulated host response to infection leads to sepsis, which is accompanied by life-threatening organ dysfunction, septic shock, multi-organ failure, and death. Despite advances in the healthcare system, identifying the root cause quickly remains a major challenge globally. In 2017, WHO declared sepsis a healthcare priority as 48.9 million sepsis cases were recorded worldwide and 11 million sepsis-related deaths, representing 19.7% of all global deaths. In India, there were 11.3 million cases and 2.9 million fatalities, accounting for 23% of global burden and 26.4% of all deaths.