Show Notes
Unpack the critical links between infection, antimicrobial resistance, and sepsis with host Nicole Kupchik, and learn how together, they’re placing intense strain on public health systems, communities, and the broader social factors that shape health and well-being. Joined by sepsis and infection prevention leaders Pat Posa and Dr. Cindy Hou, this episode explores how preventing infections before they happen remains one of the most effective strategies to reduce AMR and decrease sepsis risk across all care settings—from hospitals to home-based care. Major global health events, like the COVID-19 pandemic, have dramatically reshaped the landscape, exposing weaknesses in infection control and accelerating AMR challenges. As these challenges grow, education and public awareness have become essential tools. Essential for clinicians, sepsis coordinators, infection preventionists, and anyone across the continuum of care focused on quality improvement and reducing patient harm..
Featured Guests:
Pat Posa, RN, BSN, MSA, CCRN, FAAN (IG @patposa): Quality and Patient Safety expert known for leading sepsis bundle initiatives at Michigan Medicine and the Hospital Medicine Safety Consortium.
Cindy Hou, DO, MA, MBA, FIDSA (LinkedIn @cindy-hou-iddoc):Chief Medical Officer, Sepsis Alliance, Infectious disease physician and Infection Control Officer at Jefferson Health - New Jersey, specializing in antimicrobial stewardship and HAI prevention.
Key Takeaways:
Look at how infection, antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and sepsis are all tangled together—and how they’re putting serious pressure on public health, communities, and the social factors that affect people’s well-being.
Dig into why stopping infections before they start is one of the smartest ways to prevent sepsis, no matter where care is happening.
Think about how big global health moments—like the COVID-19 pandemic—have changed the game when it comes to AMR and sepsis outcomes.
Explore the real-world challenges that healthcare pros face when trying to tackle sepsis, hospital-acquired infections (HAIs), and growing resistance to treatment.
Revisit why education tools, like podcasts, matter—because spreading awareness and education can close knowledge gaps and spark real change in how we handle sepsis, AMR, and health equity.
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Get in Touch: [email protected]
Or Visit Us At: SepsisPodcast.org
Connect with Nicole on Socials: @nicolekupchik
Connect with Sepsis Alliance on Socials: @sepsisalliance
To Learn More About Sepsis, Visit EndSuperbugs.org
Produced by: Human Content and Sepsis Alliance
Sepsis is a life-threatening emergency that happens when your body’s response to an infection damages vital organs and, often, causes death. In other words, it’s your body’s overactive and toxic response to an infection. Like strokes or heart attacks, sepsis is a medical emergency that requires rapid diagnosis and treatment. Sepsis can lead to severe sepsis and septic shock. Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) is a global health crisis where bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites evolve and become resistant to the effects of antimicrobial medicines. Antimicrobial Stewardship (AMS) is a coordinated approach to improve the responsible use of antimicrobials and minimize the spread of resistance.
More from The Sepsis Spectrum
Sepsis doesn’t just overwhelm the body, it can turn the lungs into ground zero for multi-organ dysfunction. In this episode, host Nicole Kupchik sits down with Dr. Julie Bastarache to explore how sepsis triggers Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) in a significant portion of critically ill patients. Dr. Bastarache explains why sepsis-induced ARDS isn’t a single entity but a spectrum of clinical, physiologic and biologic responses, each requiring its own approach. From the fundamentals of mechanical ventilation and why low tidal volume remains lifesaving, to the emerging, and surprising protective effects of GLP-1 receptor agonists, Dr. Bastarache’s reverse translational science bridges bedside observations back into the lab, to uncover new pathways and potential therapies. Plus, mental health counselor Kristan Seaford, shares her Sepsis Survival story of how pushing through the holiday season while caring for children sick with strep and the flu, led her to overlooking her own symptoms until she was fighting for her life.
Acute kidney injury (AKI) is far more dangerous and complex than previously understood. In this episode, host Nicole Kupchik sits down with Dr. Gonzalo Matzumura to break down what really happens inside the kidneys during sepsis. From disrupted renal perfusion, tubular cell injury, and overwhelming inflammation, clinicians and, more importantly, patients, face high stakes when it comes to treating sepsis-related AKI. Dr. Matzumura sheds light on why prevention, recognition, and calling in the nephrologist earlier can mean the difference between lifelong disease, kidney replacement therapy, and full recovery. We’re also joined by Josh and Chelsea Woodward who share their powerful sepsis survival story, recounting how just a few red spots on Josh’s skin quickly spiraled into a medical crisis, underscoring just how quickly AKI and sepsis can escalate and why awareness is essential.
Host Nicole Kupchik is joined by Dr. Kaveh Hoda to unpack one of the most overlooked drivers of sepsis: the gut. Often called “the motor of MODS,” the GI tract can push the body toward recovery, or accelerate systemic collapse. In this episode, Dr. Hoda explains the importance of microbiome diversity, the breakdown of gut barriers leading to leaks and inflammation, and how critical illness disrupts the small intestine. More importantly, he shares what clinicians can do to support GI function at the bedside, from early nutrition strategies and listening to bowel sounds, to C.diff management. Plus, Sepsis Survivor Hailey Bain shares her story of septic shock, which was triggered by a ruptured appendix and originally mistaken for gynecologic pain. Her experience highlights how sepsis can escalate if early warning signs are missed.
In this episode, Nicole Kupchik sits down with Dr. Craig Jenne to unravel how the liver’s immune response shifts during sepsis. Together, they explore how an organ known for detoxifying and defending the body can actually fuel inflammation and injury. From leukocyte traps to immune misfires, we’re looking at the cellular chaos behind sepsis and what it takes to restore balance. A fascinating deep-dive for clinicians, researchers, and anyone curious about the unseen complexity of critical illness.
What if the key to controlling inflammation, and even saving lives from sepsis, lies not in the bloodstream, but in the brain? In this episode, Nicole Kupchik talks with Dr. Kevin J. Tracey, President and CEO of the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research at Northwell Health, whose groundbreaking work in neuroimmunology and bioelectronic medicine is redefining how we understand the vagus nerve and how it communicates with the immune system to regulate inflammation. From surprising results of sheep studies to the promise of vagus nerve stimulation devices, Dr. Tracey explains how rethinking the body’s electrical signs could transform sepsis care, redefine inflammation, and reveal new frontiers in treatment. We also hear from Kimberly Emanuel, a sepsis survivor who endured the breakdown of her body systems before her remarkable recovery.