The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a new Vital Signs report focusing on sepsis, emphasizing the importance of prevention and early recognition. Sepsis is a complication caused by the body’s overwhelming and life-threatening response to infection, which can lead to tissue damage, organ failure, and death. According to this report, sepsis begins outside of the hospital for nearly 80 percent of patients; yet, the report found 7 in 10 patients with sepsis had recently interacted with healthcare providers or had chronic diseases requiring frequent medical care. On August 30, CDC will host a Town Hall Teleconference on “How Three States Tackled Sepsis.” Additionally, two free webinars on sepsis will be available in September for Sepsis Awareness Month, one for all healthcare professionals (September 13) and a second specific to nurses (September 22). Visit CDC’s sepsis web page and read the new Vital Signs report for further information.