Prof Chris McDevitt's presentation is a must see because Sepsis is one of the leading causes of death worldwide.
MC for the day was Past President Bob Glindeman
Reflection was delivered by Past President Robert Fisher
President Philip began proceedings by welcoming all to the 31st meeting for this rotary year, and our 5114th Club meeting in the Clubs 105-year history.
He then welcomed a number of special guests:
All visitors and guest attending this meeting are listed later in this Bulletin.
General business included an update on the fast approaching Architectural Walk, lead by Barb Yerondais on Friday 20thMarch – this year a tour of the new Metro Tunnel beginning at Anzac Station No 1 Exit at 5:45pm and concluding with dinner North Melbourne’s Courthouse Hotel.
We were reminded that Footy tipping would begin on Thursday 5 March so enrolling for this is an urgent priority. We are also looking forward to the visit to our Club of Past RI President Jennifer Jones who will be keynote speaker on 25 March. Jennifer was President in the year of the Melbourne RI convention and will shortly assume responsibility as chair of the Rotary Foundation.
President Philip then invited Chair of the day, and Honorary Secretary Sue Smith to introduce our guest speaker – his compelling address is summarised below.
Summary of Address by Professor Christopher McDevitt on Sepsis (4 March 2026)
Professor Christopher McDevitt of the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity delivered an address explaining the causes, impacts and emerging research surrounding sepsis, a life-threatening medical emergency that occurs when the body’s immune system overreacts to an infection.
Sepsis begins with a normal infection—such as pneumonia, a urinary tract infection, or even an infected cut—but the body’s immune response becomes dysregulated. Instead of containing the infection locally, the immune system triggers widespread inflammation throughout the body. This “friendly fire” response damages blood vessels and organs, causing blood pressure to fall and leading to organ failure. If untreated, the condition can progress rapidly and become fatal.
The scale of the problem is enormous. Globally, approximately 166 million people develop sepsis each year, with around 21 million deaths, making it responsible for roughly one in three deaths worldwide. In Australia alone, more than 84,000 people are hospitalised annually, and about 12,000 die, making sepsis a leading cause of hospital mortality. Importantly, many survivors experience long-term consequences such as chronic fatigue, cognitive impairment, recurrent infections, post-traumatic stress, or even limb amputation.
Certain groups are at higher risk of developing sepsis, including people over 65, newborns, individuals with chronic illnesses such as diabetes or kidney disease, immunocompromised patients, pregnant women, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. However, Professor McDermott emphasised that sepsis can affect otherwise healthy individuals, as it depends on how the immune system responds to infection.
Common bacterial triggers include organisms such as Staphylococcus aureus (golden staph), Streptococcus pneumoniae, E. coli, and other hospital-associated bacteria. Many of these pathogens now exist in antibiotic-resistant forms, often referred to as “superbugs.” This growing antimicrobial resistance is making sepsis increasingly difficult to treat.
Early recognition of sepsis is critical because every hour of delayed treatment increases the risk of death by nearly 8 percent. Key warning signs include high or very low body temperature, rapid heart rate, difficulty breathing, confusion or disorientation, extreme pain, and changes in skin colour such as pale or blotchy skin. Professor McDermott stressed that if several of these symptoms appear together, people should seek urgent medical attention and ask the question: “Could it be sepsis?” Public health programs encouraging this question have significantly improved detection and reduced mortality.
Treatment typically relies on three main interventions: rapid administration of broad-spectrum antibiotics, intravenous fluids to stabilise blood pressure, and intensive supportive care such as ventilation or dialysis if organs begin to fail. However, antibiotic resistance increasingly undermines this approach, while pharmaceutical companies have largely withdrawn from antibiotic development because it is less profitable than drugs for chronic diseases.
Professor McDevitt’s research focuses on overcoming antibiotic resistance. His team has discovered that increasing zinc levels inside bacteria can disrupt their resistance mechanisms. Using a compound known as PBT2, originally developed for neurodegenerative diseases, researchers can transport zinc into bacterial cells faster than they can remove it. This process restores the effectiveness of existing antibiotics against resistant bacteria. Laboratory and animal studies have shown promising results in treating infections caused by several drug-resistant pathogens.
If successfully developed for clinical use, this approach could allow doctors to restore the effectiveness of current frontline antibiotics, providing a powerful new tool against sepsis and other serious bacterial infections. Professor McDermott concluded by emphasising the importance of awareness, early treatment, and continued research to combat antibiotic resistance and improve outcomes for patients with sepsis.
The full meeting recording can be views here.. The recoding of Professor Christopher McDevitt can be viewed here..
Professor Christopher McDevitt's slides can be viewed here.
