WATCH: UBC scientists make a breakthrough in sepsis research

A new test developed by researchers at UBC could help doctors quickly diagnose sepsis.

The syndrome is blamed for as many as five million deaths annually around the world.

Sepsis can be caused by any number of bacteria and viruses.

Right now, diagnosing sepsis can take 24 to 48 hours and as the treatment involves aggressive antibiotics, time is of the essence to prevent organ failure and death.

Preventing it from getting lethal requires knowing which patients will develop the deadly reaction so treatment can begin early.

The researchers discovered 30 gene markers that when detected in sufficient quantities mean a patient is at risk of developing severe sepsis.

The new early diagnosis system isn’t ready to be rolled out to hospitals yet, but the discovery holds tremendous promise.

With files from Linda Aylesworth