David Lissauer, PhD, highlights efficacy of APT-Sepsis toward reducing maternal infection

Maternal infection and sepsis continue to represent major global health challenges, remaining among the leading causes of maternal mortality despite overall improvements in maternal health outcomes. In the interview, David Lissauer, PhD, professor at the University of Liverpool, discussed how reductions in deaths from other obstetric complications have not been matched by similar progress in infection-related outcomes.

He noted that international attention, investment, and coordinated strategies targeting maternal infection and sepsis have lagged behind, allowing these preventable causes of morbidity and mortality to persist. Lissauer highlighted findings from the Active Prevention and Treatment of Maternal Sepsis (APT-Sepsis) program, a structured initiative designed to reduce the burden of severe maternal infections in low-resource settings. According to the presented data, implementation of APT-Sepsis was associated with a 32% reduction in key adverse outcomes, including infection-related mortality, infection-related near-miss events, and severe maternal infections.

Importantly, he emphasized that these improvements were not short-lived; the reduction in adverse outcomes was sustained over time throughout the duration of the trial. The program’s impact was consistent across both trial locations—Malawi and Uganda—demonstrating its adaptability and effectiveness in diverse clinical environments with significant resource constraints.

A central advantage of the APT-Sepsis approach, Lissauer explained, is its integrated, programmatic design. The model is built to be implemented at the facility level and includes built-in training, clinical tools, and implementation support to help health care workers adopt evidence-based practices.

This structure is intended to support clinicians working in challenging environments where staffing, equipment, or training resources may be limited. By offering a clear framework that can be efficiently introduced and scaled, the approach aims to strengthen infection prevention, timely recognition, and appropriate management of maternal sepsis in settings where these improvements are often most needed.

Lissauer encouraged clinicians and health systems interested in improving maternal infection outcomes to explore the APT-Sepsis materials, all of which are freely accessible online through links in the program’s open-access publication. He noted that additional guidance and support are available for facilities considering adaptation or implementation of the approach. Ongoing collaboration with global partners, including the World Health Organization, is helping advance efforts to expand the program’s reach and ensure broader uptake in other countries and facilities.

Overall, the interview underscores the urgent need for focused, scalable, and sustainable strategies to reduce maternal infection and sepsis. The APT-Sepsis program offers a promising pathway toward improving maternal health outcomes globally by equipping frontline clinicians with practical, evidence-based tools that can be successfully applied even in resource-limited settings.

No relevant disclosures.

Reference

Maternal health program cuts infection deaths by 32%. University of Liverpool. November 19, 2025. Accessed December 3, 2025. https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1106729