After the emergency caesarean birth of her child in a London hospital, Dr Giorgia Gon was recovering with the support of her partner, family and friends when she noticed that part of her wound had become red and painful. 

Giorgia had developed an infection. She received prompt care from her GP, but the infection still set her recovery back by several weeks. 

While she did not develop sepsis, the experience brought a deeply personal perspective to an issue already closely connected to her professional work. 

“My experience showed me how quickly an infection can complicate an already vulnerable time, and how much depends on recognising it and receiving effective treatment without delay,” said Giorgia. 

As a researcher in infection prevention and control and maternal outcomes at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), Giorgia knew how serious maternal infections can become. But experiencing one herself also made her think about the importance of having access to timely, good-quality care. 

“The care I received should not be a privilege. It is an achievable right for all women,” she said. 

Around 19 million women are estimated to develop maternal infections each year, with approximately 5.7 million cases progressing to sepsis. The true burden may be considerably higher, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where data are limited and access to diagnostic testing and timely treatment is often constrained. 

For World Sepsis Day, Giorgia is highlighting why preventing deaths from maternal sepsis requires not only new research, but ensuring that women can benefit from effective interventions wherever they receive care. 

Recognising infection before it becomes sepsis 

Pregnancy brings physiological changes that can make sepsis more difficult to recognise. Detecting an infection early and identifying when a woman is becoming seriously unwell can therefore be critical. 

Reliable screening approaches and affordable diagnostic tests could help health workers recognise maternal sepsis earlier. But for these tools to make a difference, they need to be practical and accessible in the health systems where women receive care. 

This is particularly important in settings where access to diagnostic testing and timely treatment may already be limited. 

When antibiotics are needed, they need to work 

For women with suspected sepsis, treatment cannot wait. Effective antibiotics need to be given quickly. 

But antimicrobial resistance is making that increasingly challenging. Understanding which organisms are causing infections and how resistance patterns differ between settings can help clinicians select effective treatments. At the same time, unnecessary or inappropriate antibiotic use can contribute to further resistance. 

This creates an important balance: ensuring women who need antibiotics receive effective treatment without delay, while using these medicines appropriately so they remain effective in the future. 

Making good care available everywhere 

Giorgia's experience also highlights that preventing maternal sepsis does not depend solely on developing new technologies. 

Measures including infection prevention and control, safe caesarean-section practices, well-trained health workers, early recognition and rapid treatment can already prevent infections and save lives. 

The challenge is ensuring that they are implemented consistently and equitably. This question also connects Giorgia's personal experience with her research. 

As an expert reviewer for PRiOrities for Global RESearch in maternal Sepsis (PROGRESS), Giorgia contributed her professional expertise to an international process involving researchers, clinicians, policymakers, women, community representatives and sepsis survivors. The collaboration consulted participants across more than 50 countries to identify priorities for future maternal sepsis research. 

Her personal experience has added another perspective to that work. 

“Behind every research priority is a woman, a baby and a family,” said Giorgia. “Research informed by professional expertise and women’s experiences can help turn evidence into earlier diagnosis, effective treatment and safer care for all.” 

For Giorgia, the care she received following the birth of her child shows what timely recognition and treatment can achieve. This World Sepsis Day, her message is that access to that care should not depend on where a woman gives birth.