FROM CULTURE TO CODE: AI TRANSFORMING MICROBIAL DETECTION AND SEPSIS DIAGNOSIS

Sepsis continues to be one of the most serious global health threats, causing high rates of illness and death because of how quickly it can progress and how differently it presents in each patient. In this chapter, we explored how Artificial Intelligence (AI) is emerging as a game- changer in the way sepsis is managed from detecting it early to providing tailored treatments and continuously monitoring patients in real-time. Artificial intelligence, particularly via machine learning techniques such as random forest models and deep learning algorithms, is demonstrating significant efficacy in interpreting the extensive data contained inside electronic health records. Through the analysis of this data, AI can identify minor indicators of sepsis prior to its full manifestation. Random forest algorithms have demonstrated high accuracy in forecasting the onset of sepsis in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) patients. Deep learning has been effectively employed to identify consequences such as sepsis-related acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS). The excitement surrounding AI stems from its capacity to facilitate personalised treatment strategies. By predicting how an individual patient is likely to respond to specific therapies, AI can help doctors choose treatments that are both more effective and safer, reducing unnecessary risks. AI- powered monitoring systems, including wearable technology, are now making it possible to track patients in real-time and predict sepsis-related complications as they happen allowing healthcare teams to intervene faster than ever before. Beyond early detection and real-time care, AI is also improving diagnostic accuracy, offering better predictions of long- term outcomes, and enabling more flexible risk assessments in clinical practice. However, as we embrace these innovations, we must also carefully address the ethical challenges that come with them, particularly concerns about data privacy and potential biases in AI algorithms. This chapter is especially important because it not only discusses the current gaps and struggles in managing sepsis but also highlights how AI offers new hope in overcoming these challenges and ultimately saving more lives.