Call for papers - Sepsis: pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment

Guest Editors

Pierre-François Laterre, MD, CHR Mons-Hainaut, Belgium
Alberto Enrico Maraolo, MD, MSc, University of Naples Federico II, Italy

Submission Status: Open | Submission Deadline: 30 June 2025

BMC Infectious Diseases is calling for submissions to our Collection on Sepsis: pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment. This Collection invites researchers to contribute to the understanding of sepsis and bloodstream infections, focusing on innovative diagnostics, therapeutics, and the underlying mechanisms of this complex syndrome. We welcome submissions that explore biomarkers, the impact of sepsis on organ dysfunction, and advancements in treatment strategies, aiming to enhance clinical outcomes and inform public health initiatives.

New Content Item This Collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being.

Submit to Collection

Meet the Guest Editors

Back to top

Pierre-François Laterre, MD, CHR Mons-Hainaut, Belgium

Dr Pierre-François Laterre, MD, is professor of medicine and the Head of the medical-surgical intensive care unit at Saint Luc University Hospital at the Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium. In 1990 he graduated in Internal Medicine and started working in 1991 in Intensive Care Medicine at Saint Luc University Hospital - Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels (Belgium), as Practionner at CHRU of Nancy (France), and as Research Fellow at the Johns Hopkins Hospital (Baltimore, USA) in '93. Dr Laterre has dedicated most of his professional and scientific activity to the diagnosis, investigation and treatment of sepsis and especially its interaction with the coagulation cascade, inflammation and host response. Liver Failure and Transplantation, ARDS, Acute Renal Failure, Infectious Diseases are his topics of interest. He has a large experience in multicenter, randomized, double blind studies and he is Director of the 4Cs Clinical Coordinating Center. He was a Visiting Professor in Intensive Care Medicine at King's College London (UK). Dr Laterre is member of the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine, Society of CCM and of several advisory boards. He was former president of the French Society of Critical Care. His current position is Head of the ICU in CHR Mons-Hainaut.

Alberto Enrico Maraolo, MD, MSc, University of Naples Federico II, Italy

Dr Alberto Enrico Maraolo is an infectious disease specialist and tenure-track assistant professor at the University of Naples Federico II in Italy. With a rich background in clinical research and healthcare, he has worked extensively in the fields of nosocomial infections, antimicrobial resistance, and COVID-19, particularly within intensive care settings. Dr Maraolo has authored numerous publications in high-impact journals and is actively involved in national and international research groups, with a special interest on evidence syntheses. His contributions include being a co-first author of Italian guidelines on managing multidrug-resistant infections. Additionally, he is a dedicated educator and reviewer for various scientific journals.

About the Collection

BMC Infectious Diseases is calling for submissions to our Collection on Sepsis: pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment. Sepsis, a life-threatening condition resulting from the body's extreme response to infection, remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Bloodstream infections, a common trigger for sepsis, can lead to severe complications, including septic shock and multiple organ failure. The Sepsis-3 definition has refined our understanding of this complex syndrome, emphasizing the importance of early recognition and timely intervention. Despite advances in diagnostic techniques and therapeutic strategies, sepsis continues to pose significant challenges in clinical practice, necessitating ongoing research to improve patient outcomes.

Advancing our collective understanding of sepsis is crucial for developing effective prevention and treatment strategies. Recent advances have included the identification of novel biomarkers for early diagnosis, the refinement of the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score for risk stratification, and the exploration of targeted therapeutics. These developments have the potential to enhance clinical decision-making and improve survival rates. However, the complexity of sepsis demands further investigation into its pathophysiology, the role of host factors, and the impact of emerging pathogens, including fungal infections. Continued research in this area may lead to groundbreaking discoveries in personalized medicine approaches for sepsis management, including tailored therapeutic interventions based on individual patient profiles. Additionally, advancements in technology, such as artificial intelligence and machine learning, could revolutionize early detection and monitoring of sepsis, ultimately improving patient outcomes and reducing healthcare costs.

This Collection aims to enhance understanding and improve clinical practices in sepsis and bloodstream infections management. We welcome diverse contributions from basic research to clinical trials. Key topics of interest for submission include, but are not limited to:

Biomarkers for sepsis diagnosis
Therapeutics in septic shock management
Fungal sepsis and its implications
SOFA score and organ dysfunction assessment
Multiple organ failure in sepsis patients

This Collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being.

There are currently no articles in this collection.

Submission Guidelines

Back to top

This Collection welcomes submission of original Research Articles. Should you wish to submit a different article type, please read our submission guidelines to confirm that type is accepted by the journal. Articles for this Collection should be submitted via our submission system, Snapp. During the submission process you will be asked whether you are submitting to a Collection, please select "Sepsis: pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment" from the dropdown menu.

Articles will undergo the journal’s standard peer-review process and are subject to all of the journal’s standard policies. Articles will be added to the Collection as they are published.

The Editors have no competing interests with the submissions which they handle through the peer review process. The peer review of any submissions for which the Editors have competing interests is handled by another Editorial Board Member who has no competing interests.