Irish docs' sepsis breakthrough

A "PROMISING" new way of detecting sepsis early in newborn babies and pregnant women has been discovered.

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A breakthrough study by Irish researchers pinpointed a biomarker for the early identification of the potentially deadly condition in "high-risk" patient groups, including young children.

The team discovered the potential of the molecule interleukin-6, known as IL-6, as a powerful indicator of sepsis which results from the immune system's over-reaction to infection.

It is one of the leading causes of loss of life, accounting for an estimated 11million deaths every year globally.