Sepsis (peds): Difference between revisions

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{{Peds top}} [[Sepsis]].''
==Background==
==Background==
*Defined as a dysregulated host response to infection that leads to life-threatening organ dysfunction<ref>Weiss SL, Fitzgerald  JC. Pediatric Sepsis Diagnosis, Management, and Sub-phenotypes. Pediatrics (2024) 153 (1): e2023062967. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2023-062967</ref>
*Tachycardia is typically most predominant, hypotension is a late and ominous sign
*Tachycardia is typically most predominant, hypotension is a late and ominous sign
*Neonatal Sepsis
**Early onset
***First few days of life
***Fulminant, associated with maternal or perinatal risk factors
***Septic shock and neutropenia are more common
**Late onset
***Occurs after 1wk of age
***Gradual
***Meningitis more likely
**Consider if feeding disturbance, rash, lethargy, irritability, seizure, apnea, tachypnea, grunting, vomiting, poor PO, gastric distention, diarrhea


==Clinical Features==
==Clinical Features==
Warm Shock vs Cold Shock
[[Pediatric shock|Shock]]: Warm vs Cold Shock


{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
Line 31: Line 23:
| Pulse Pressure || Widen || Narrow
| Pulse Pressure || Widen || Narrow
|}
|}
===Neonatal Sepsis===
*Early onset
**First few days of life
**Fulminant, associated with maternal or perinatal risk factors
**[[Septic shock]] and [[neutropenia]] are more common
*Late onset
**Occurs after 1 week of age
**Gradual
**[[Meningitis (Peds)|Meningitis]] more likely
*Consider if feeding disturbance, rash, lethargy, irritability, [[seizure]], apnea, tachypnea, grunting, vomiting, poor PO, gastric distention, [[diarrhea]]


==Differential Diagnosis==
==Differential Diagnosis==
Line 39: Line 42:
==Evaluation==
==Evaluation==
===Work-Up===
===Work-Up===
*CBC, CMP, arterial lactate, CRP
*CBC, CMP
*Coags, [[D-dimer]], fibrinogen
*[[Lactate]], CRP
*Blood glucose
*Blood glucose
*UA/urine culture
*[[Urinalysis]]/[[urine culture]]
*[[CXR]]
*[[CXR]]
*CSF
*[[Blood cultures]]
*Blood cultures
*Consider [[LP]] for [[CSF]]


===SIRS Criteria in Peds===
===Diagnosis===
Requires > or equal to 2 of 4 requirements, with abnormal temperature or WBC required
*Initial screening and decision to send studies is based on provider judgement
*Temperature >100.4 or <96.8
*Use the [https://www.mdcalc.com/calc/10509/phoenix-sepsis-score Phoenix Sepsis Score] to calculate sepsis criteria, including septic shock.<ref>Schlapbach LJ, et al. International Consensus Criteria for Pediatric Sepsis and Septic Shock. JAMA. 2024 Feb 27;331(8):665-674. doi: 10.1001/jama.2024.0179.</ref><ref>Sanchez-Pinto LN, et al. Development and Validation of the Phoenix Criteria for Pediatric Sepsis and Septic Shock. JAMA. 2024 Feb 27;331(8):675-686. doi: 10.1001/jama.2024.0196.</ref>
*Age specific tachycardia or bradycardia <10th % for age <1 year
**Not indicated for adults, preterm (<37 weeks), or peri-birth hospitalizations
*RR >2 SD above the norm
*WBC elevated or depressed, based on age, or >10% bands
 
===Severe Sepsis===
*Cardiovascular organ dysfunction
*Respiratory distress
OR
*CNS dysfunction - GCS <11 or >3 loss from baseline
*Platelets <80 or >50% decrease from baseline
*Creatinine >2x upper limit of normal/baseline
*Total bilirubin >4 or ALT >2x normal
 
===Septic Shock===
*Hypotension <5th % for age, or SBP <2 SD below normal for age
OR
*Need for vasoactive drugs to maintain BP
OR
*Metabolic acidosis base deficit >5
*Arterial lactate >2x normal
*UOP <0.5 mL/kg/hr
*Capillary refill >5 sec
*Core to peripheral temperature gap >3 degrees C
*DESPITE IVF resuscitation >40mL/kg in 1 hour


==Management==
==Management==
===Initial assessment===
===Initial Resuscitation Focus===
*Circulation
#Treat hypoxemia with supplemental [[oxygen]] (goal SpO2 92-98%)<ref>Weiss SL, Fitzgerald  JC. Pediatric Sepsis Diagnosis, Management, and Sub-phenotypes. Pediatrics (2024) 153 (1): e2023062967. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2023-062967</ref>
**1 min to attain IV access
#Obtain intravenous/[[intraosseous access]]
**Afer 1 min attain [[IO access]]
#*Rapidly transition to [[IO access]], if difficulties with starting IV
**60ml/kg IVF over the first hour
#Collect diagnostic tests (including [[blood culture]], [[lactate]], ionized calcium; see workup above)
**Consider vasopressors if not fluid responsive
#*Treat [[hypoglycemia]], if present
**Consider steroids if not fluid responsive
#Early empiric broad-spectrum [[antibiotics]] (see below)
*Airway
#Administer bolus [[intravenous fluid therapy]] administration (see below), if shock is present
**Consider early intubation, especially in fluid refractory shock
#Start vasoactive agents, if shock persists
**[[Ketamine]] for sedation is drug of choice
#Airway
***Hypotension can still occur in septic patients
#*Consider [[CPAP]] (may buy time for fluid resuscitation prior intubation)
**Typical paralytic agents
#*Consider [[intubation]], especially in fluid refractory [[pediatric shock|shock]]
*Breathing
#**Consider use of [[ketamine]] for sedation (less hypotension)
**CPAP can buy time for fluid rescuss prior intubation
#**Be prepared for cardiovascular collapse
*Glucose
#Consider corticosteroids<ref>Weiss SL, Fitzgerald  JC. Pediatric Sepsis Diagnosis, Management, and Sub-phenotypes. Pediatrics (2024) 153 (1): e2023062967. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2023-062967</ref>
**Ensure euglycemia
#Continue to reassess (see below)


===Golden Hour Goals of Resuscitation===
===Empiric Broad-Spectrum Antibiotics===
*Cap refill <2 sec
''If in shock, administer as soon as possible. If not, it is reasonable to perform expedited diagnostics before administration.<ref>Weiss SL, Fitzgerald  JC. Pediatric Sepsis Diagnosis, Management, and Sub-phenotypes. Pediatrics (2024) 153 (1): e2023062967. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2023-062967</ref>''
*Normal BP
*Normal pulses, similar central and peripheral
*Warm extremities
*UOP >1 mL/kg/hr
*Normal mental status


===Lactate===
*Compared to adults, peds more often has normal lactate levels
*Controversial but surviving sepsis campaign no longer recommends trending lactate in pediatric patients<ref>Dellinger RP, Levy MM, Rhodes A, et al. Surviving Sepsis Campaign: International Guidelines for Management of Severe Sepsis and Septic Shock, 2012. Intensive Care Med 2013; 39: 165-228.</ref>
===Antibiotics===
====Neonatal====
====Neonatal====
*Ampicillin 50mg/kg + [[gentamicin]] 2.5mg/kg + acyclovir
*[[Ampicillin]] 50mg/kg q8h + [[gentamicin]] 2.5mg/kg q24h + [[acyclovir]]
**If gram-negative strongly suspected replace [[gentamicin]] with cefotaxime or ceftaz
**If gram-negative strongly suspected replace [[gentamicin]] with [[cefotaxime]] or [[ceftazadine]]
***Have better CNS penetration
***Have better CNS penetration
====Peds====
====Peds====
''Treatment will differ by local protocols''
''Treatment will differ by local protocols''
*Extended-spectrum penicillin ± aminoglycoside ± vancomycin  
*Extended-spectrum penicillin (e.g. [[piperacillin-tazobactam]]) ± [[aminoglycoside]] ± [[vancomycin]]
OR
'''OR'''
*3rd or 4th generation cephalosporin ± aminoglycoside ± vancomycin  
*3rd or 4th generation [[cephalosporin]] ± [[aminoglycoside]] ± [[vancomycin]]
OR
'''OR'''
*Carbapenem ± aminoglycosidea ± vancomycin
*[[Carbapenem]] ± [[aminoglycoside]] ± [[vancomycin]]
 
{{Infant fever well antibiotics}}


===Vasopressors===
===Fluid Resuscitation===
*If vasopressors needed for septic shock, follow recommendations:
*For shock, 20 mL/kg boluses of isotonic crystalloid fluid titrated to clinical markers of cardiac output<ref>Weiss SL, Fitzgerald  JC. Pediatric Sepsis Diagnosis, Management, and Sub-phenotypes. Pediatrics (2024) 153 (1): e2023062967. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2023-062967</ref>
**Normotensive shock with impaired perfusion: dopamine
**Frequently ≥40 mL/kg in the first hour of resuscitation
**Warm shock (vasodilated with poor perfusion or low BP): norepinephrine
*In low-resource settings (e.g., low income countries), fluid bolus therapy should be avoided unless the child exhibits hypotension<ref>Weiss SL, Fitzgerald  JC. Pediatric Sepsis Diagnosis, Management, and Sub-phenotypes. Pediatrics (2024) 153 (1): e2023062967. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2023-062967</ref>
**Cold shock (vasoconstricted with poor perfusion or low BP): epinephrine
 
===[[Vasopressors]]===
*Indicated for children that have:
**Myocardial dysfunction
**Shock in the setting of fluid overload
**Continue to have abnormal perfusion after 40-60 mL/kg of fluid resuscitation
*1st line: [[epinephrine]] or [[norepinephrine]] (i.e., ''not'' dopamine)<ref>Marik PE. Dopamine increases mortality in pediatric septic shock. Journal of Pediatrics. January 2016, Volume 168, Pages 253–256.</ref><ref>Ventura AM, Shieh HH, Bousso A, Goes PF, Fernandes IC, de Souza DC, et al. Double-Blind Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial of Dopamine Versus [[Epinephrine]]as First-Line Vasoactive Drugs in Pediatric Septic Shock. Crit Care Med 2015;43:2292-302. </ref><ref>Weiss SL, Fitzgerald  JC. Pediatric Sepsis Diagnosis, Management, and Sub-phenotypes. Pediatrics (2024) 153 (1): e2023062967. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2023-062967</ref>
*2nd and 3rd line: consider [[epinephrine]], [[norepinephrine]], [[dobutamine]], [[milrinone]], [[vasopressin]], angiotensin II<ref>Weiss SL, Fitzgerald  JC. Pediatric Sepsis Diagnosis, Management, and Sub-phenotypes. Pediatrics (2024) 153 (1): e2023062967. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2023-062967</ref>
 
===Corticosteroids===
*Intravenous [[hydrocortisone]] recommended only for children with fluid-refractory, catecholamine-resistant shock.<ref>Weiss SL, Fitzgerald  JC. Pediatric Sepsis Diagnosis, Management, and Sub-phenotypes. Pediatrics (2024) 153 (1): e2023062967. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2023-062967</ref>
**There are no data on the addition of fludrocortisone to enhance the mineralocorticoid effect in pediatric septic shock.<ref>Weiss SL, Fitzgerald  JC. Pediatric Sepsis Diagnosis, Management, and Sub-phenotypes. Pediatrics (2024) 153 (1): e2023062967. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2023-062967</ref>
 
===Reevaluation===
*Patients should be continuously reassessed for signs of:
**Ongoing or worsening shock
**Iatrogenic fluid overload (e.g., pulmonary rales, hepatomegaly, peripheral edema, and echocardiographic findings that may suggest fluid overload)
*Golden Hour Goals
**Cap refill <2 sec
**Normal BP
**Normal pulses, similar central and peripheral
**Warm extremities
**UOP >1 mL/kg/hr
**Normal mental status


==Disposition==
==Disposition==
Line 129: Line 127:
*[[Pediatric Fever]]
*[[Pediatric Fever]]
*[[Sepsis (Main)]]
*[[Sepsis (Main)]]
==External Links==
*https://www.mdcalc.com/calc/10509/phoenix-sepsis-score


==References==
==References==
<references/>
<references/>
Tintinalli
"Pediatric Sepsis" published in EM Resident 2013 40(4) , adapted from Goldstein, et al. Pediatr Crit Care Med 2005; 6:2-8.


[[Category:Pediatrics]]
[[Category:Pediatrics]]
[[Category:Critical Care]]
[[Category:ID]]

Latest revision as of 22:42, 5 July 2025

This page is for pediatric patients. For adult patients, see: Sepsis.

Background

  • Defined as a dysregulated host response to infection that leads to life-threatening organ dysfunction[1]
  • Tachycardia is typically most predominant, hypotension is a late and ominous sign

Clinical Features

Shock: Warm vs Cold Shock

Warm Shock Cold Shock
Peripheries Warm, Flushed Mottled, Cold, Clammy
Cap Refill <2 sec >2 sec
Pulse Bounding Weak, Thready
BP Compensated Hypotension
HR Tachy Tachy or Brady
Pulse Pressure Widen Narrow

Neonatal Sepsis

  • Early onset
    • First few days of life
    • Fulminant, associated with maternal or perinatal risk factors
    • Septic shock and neutropenia are more common
  • Late onset
    • Occurs after 1 week of age
    • Gradual
    • Meningitis more likely
  • Consider if feeding disturbance, rash, lethargy, irritability, seizure, apnea, tachypnea, grunting, vomiting, poor PO, gastric distention, diarrhea

Differential Diagnosis

Sick Neonate

THE MISFITS [2]

Pediatric fever

Evaluation

Work-Up

Diagnosis

  • Initial screening and decision to send studies is based on provider judgement
  • Use the Phoenix Sepsis Score to calculate sepsis criteria, including septic shock.[3][4]
    • Not indicated for adults, preterm (<37 weeks), or peri-birth hospitalizations

Management

Initial Resuscitation Focus

  1. Treat hypoxemia with supplemental oxygen (goal SpO2 92-98%)[5]
  2. Obtain intravenous/intraosseous access
    • Rapidly transition to IO access, if difficulties with starting IV
  3. Collect diagnostic tests (including blood culture, lactate, ionized calcium; see workup above)
  4. Early empiric broad-spectrum antibiotics (see below)
  5. Administer bolus intravenous fluid therapy administration (see below), if shock is present
  6. Start vasoactive agents, if shock persists
  7. Airway
    • Consider CPAP (may buy time for fluid resuscitation prior intubation)
    • Consider intubation, especially in fluid refractory shock
      • Consider use of ketamine for sedation (less hypotension)
      • Be prepared for cardiovascular collapse
  8. Consider corticosteroids[6]
  9. Continue to reassess (see below)

Empiric Broad-Spectrum Antibiotics

If in shock, administer as soon as possible. If not, it is reasonable to perform expedited diagnostics before administration.[7]

Neonatal

Peds

Treatment will differ by local protocols

OR

OR

Neonatal Antibiotics by Source[8]

Suspected Infection Source 8-21 Days Old 22-28 Days Old 29-60 Days Old
UTI
  • Ampicillin IV or IM (150 mg/kg per day divided q8) AND either:
No source identified
  • Ampicillin IV or IM (150 mg/kg per day divided q8) AND either:
Bacterial meningitis
  • Ampicillin IV or IM (300 mg/kg per day divided q6) AND
  • Ceftazidime IV or IM (150 mg/kg per day divided q8)
  • Ampicillin IV or IM (300 mg/kg per day divided q6) AND
  • Ceftazidime IV or IM (150 mg/kg per day divided q8)

Fluid Resuscitation

  • For shock, 20 mL/kg boluses of isotonic crystalloid fluid titrated to clinical markers of cardiac output[9]
    • Frequently ≥40 mL/kg in the first hour of resuscitation
  • In low-resource settings (e.g., low income countries), fluid bolus therapy should be avoided unless the child exhibits hypotension[10]

Vasopressors

Corticosteroids

  • Intravenous hydrocortisone recommended only for children with fluid-refractory, catecholamine-resistant shock.[15]
    • There are no data on the addition of fludrocortisone to enhance the mineralocorticoid effect in pediatric septic shock.[16]

Reevaluation

  • Patients should be continuously reassessed for signs of:
    • Ongoing or worsening shock
    • Iatrogenic fluid overload (e.g., pulmonary rales, hepatomegaly, peripheral edema, and echocardiographic findings that may suggest fluid overload)
  • Golden Hour Goals
    • Cap refill <2 sec
    • Normal BP
    • Normal pulses, similar central and peripheral
    • Warm extremities
    • UOP >1 mL/kg/hr
    • Normal mental status

Disposition

  • Admit

See Also

External Links

References

  1. Weiss SL, Fitzgerald JC. Pediatric Sepsis Diagnosis, Management, and Sub-phenotypes. Pediatrics (2024) 153 (1): e2023062967. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2023-062967
  2. Brousseau T, Sharieff GQ. Newborn emergencies: the first 30 days of life. Pediatr Clin North Am. 2006 Feb;53(1):69-84, vi.
  3. Schlapbach LJ, et al. International Consensus Criteria for Pediatric Sepsis and Septic Shock. JAMA. 2024 Feb 27;331(8):665-674. doi: 10.1001/jama.2024.0179.
  4. Sanchez-Pinto LN, et al. Development and Validation of the Phoenix Criteria for Pediatric Sepsis and Septic Shock. JAMA. 2024 Feb 27;331(8):675-686. doi: 10.1001/jama.2024.0196.
  5. Weiss SL, Fitzgerald JC. Pediatric Sepsis Diagnosis, Management, and Sub-phenotypes. Pediatrics (2024) 153 (1): e2023062967. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2023-062967
  6. Weiss SL, Fitzgerald JC. Pediatric Sepsis Diagnosis, Management, and Sub-phenotypes. Pediatrics (2024) 153 (1): e2023062967. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2023-062967
  7. Weiss SL, Fitzgerald JC. Pediatric Sepsis Diagnosis, Management, and Sub-phenotypes. Pediatrics (2024) 153 (1): e2023062967. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2023-062967
  8. Evaluation and Management of Well-Appearing Febrile Infants 8 to 60 Days Old Robert H. Pantell, Kenneth B. Roberts, William G. Adams, Benard P. Dreyer, Nathan Kuppermann, Sean T. O'Leary, Kymika Okechukwu and Charles R. Woods; Subcommittee On Febrile Infants Pediatrics July 2021, e2021052228; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2021-052228
  9. Weiss SL, Fitzgerald JC. Pediatric Sepsis Diagnosis, Management, and Sub-phenotypes. Pediatrics (2024) 153 (1): e2023062967. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2023-062967
  10. Weiss SL, Fitzgerald JC. Pediatric Sepsis Diagnosis, Management, and Sub-phenotypes. Pediatrics (2024) 153 (1): e2023062967. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2023-062967
  11. Marik PE. Dopamine increases mortality in pediatric septic shock. Journal of Pediatrics. January 2016, Volume 168, Pages 253–256.
  12. Ventura AM, Shieh HH, Bousso A, Goes PF, Fernandes IC, de Souza DC, et al. Double-Blind Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial of Dopamine Versus Epinephrineas First-Line Vasoactive Drugs in Pediatric Septic Shock. Crit Care Med 2015;43:2292-302.
  13. Weiss SL, Fitzgerald JC. Pediatric Sepsis Diagnosis, Management, and Sub-phenotypes. Pediatrics (2024) 153 (1): e2023062967. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2023-062967
  14. Weiss SL, Fitzgerald JC. Pediatric Sepsis Diagnosis, Management, and Sub-phenotypes. Pediatrics (2024) 153 (1): e2023062967. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2023-062967
  15. Weiss SL, Fitzgerald JC. Pediatric Sepsis Diagnosis, Management, and Sub-phenotypes. Pediatrics (2024) 153 (1): e2023062967. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2023-062967
  16. Weiss SL, Fitzgerald JC. Pediatric Sepsis Diagnosis, Management, and Sub-phenotypes. Pediatrics (2024) 153 (1): e2023062967. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2023-062967