On September 13, 2025, World Sepsis Day will be celebrated to draw attention to the causes, prevention options and therapies of sepsis, also known as blood poisoning. Especially in the cold season, the risk of infections transmitted by droplet infection, such as meningococcal diseases, increases. These can lead to serious diseases such as sepsis or meningitis and are particularly dangerous for babies and toddlers. Although meningococcal diseases are rare, they can become life-threatening within a few hours.

Around ten percent of the population in Germany carry meningococcal in the nasopharynx without symptoms and can pass on the bacteria through coughing, sneezing or close contact. Infants in particular are at risk due to their immature immune system. The disease often begins with flu-like symptoms such as fever, headache, and chills, which can quickly worsen. Sepsis often leads to skin bleeding, a drop in blood pressure and organ failure, while long-term consequences such as scarring, tissue destruction or, in extreme cases, amputations can occur. In Germany, about one in ten cases of sepsis is fatal despite intensive medical treatment.

The Standing Committee on Vaccination (STIKO) recommends early vaccinations against meningococcal types B and C for babies and young children. Catch-up vaccinations are possible for meningococcal B up to the age of 5 and for meningococcal C up to the age of 18. In addition, the meningococcal ACWY vaccination, which is recommended especially for travel, offers extended protection, but is not part of the standard vaccination program.

An important advance is the improved accessibility of the meningococcal B vaccination. Since the STIKO recommendation in 2024, it has been a mandatory benefit of all health insurance companies, and after the conclusion of regional vaccination agreements, it can now be billed directly via the insurance card nationwide. Parents no longer have to advance the costs, which makes vaccination much easier.

Further information:

RKI – RKI-Ratgeber – Meningococcal, invasive diseases (Neisseria meningitidis)

Read Also:

New approach to rapid sepsis diagnosis through AI and hyperspectral imaging – MedLabPortal

Editor: X-Press Journalistenbüro GbR

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