In 2018, 22-year-old Leticia Batista presented to the emergency department of a São Paulo hospital with fever, a sore throat, a runny nose, and very low blood pressure. She was given vasopressors, but quickly lost consciousness. That was the beginning of a long nightmare… Leticia was diagnosed with community-acquired pneumonia caused by Streptococcus pyogenes, which had rapidly developed into severe sepsis.

As of early 2024, the World Health Organization (WHO) has reported over 700 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 worldwide. As scientists continue to study SARS-CoV-2 and its variants, they are gaining valuable insights into how viruses are transmitted, how they may lead to serious life-threatening conditions such as sepsis.

Parents know that kids get sick all the time. They also know that normally, the best course of is to be treated at home with rest, fluids, and over-the-counter medicines. However, sometimes a child develops a severe illness and can’t be treated with at-home care alone.

On July 26, 2024, the United States Pharmacopeia Microbiology Expert Committee voted in favor of adopting new Chapter <86>, which endorses the use of non-animal derived reagents for Endotoxin testing. Chapter <86> provides additional techniques for bacterial endotoxin testing using non-animal derived reagents and information for manufacturers of new and existing biopharmaceuticals on how to incorporate them into their quality testing – in line with the USP’s commitment to expand the use of animal-free methods and materials.