An international research team led by Dr. Tell Bennett, a professor of biomedical informatics and pediatric critical care at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, has released new diagnostic criteria for sepsis in children. This is the first update to the pediatric sepsis definition in nearly two decades and could save countless children’s lives.
Sepsis is a life-threatening condition that occurs when the body’s response to an infection injures its own tissues and organs. It is a major cause of death and illness in children worldwide. The previous definition of sepsis, known as Sepsis-3, was developed in 2016. However, it did not apply to children because their bodies respond to sepsis differently than adults. For example, children often maintain blood pressure for longer than adults before experiencing a drop, which can delay diagnosis and treatment.
The new criteria
The new criteria, which were presented at the 2024 Critical Care Congress of the Society for Critical Care Medicine (SCCM), take into account the unique ways that children’s bodies respond to sepsis. They include measures of respiratory, cardiovascular, neurologic, and coagulation dysfunction.
The researchers developed the new criteria using data from 10 sites around the world, including the United States, Bangladesh, China, Colombia, and Kenya. This data is representative of children from all over the world who are at risk for sepsis.
Benefits of the new criteria
The new criteria are expected to improve the diagnosis and treatment of sepsis in children. They will also be helpful for medical researchers studying sepsis.
Dr. Bennett says that the new criteria are already being used to develop tools that could be implemented into hospital care to monitor and diagnose pediatric sepsis. He also says that future screening tools could be built on the new criteria to allow physicians to closely track and treat ill children.
Key Findings of Updated Pediatric Sepsis Definition
- First update in 20 years: The new criteria represent the first significant update to pediatric sepsis diagnosis in nearly two decades.
- Improved recognition of pediatric sepsis: The criteria consider the unique ways children’s bodies respond to infection, overcoming limitations of prior adult-based definitions.
- Global data-driven approach: Data from 10 sites around the world, including low-resource settings, ensures the criteria are relevant to diverse populations.
- Comprehensive assessment: The criteria include measures of respiratory, cardiovascular, neurologic, and coagulation dysfunction for a more complete picture of pediatric sepsis.
- Potential for improved outcomes: Early and accurate diagnosis with the new criteria can lead to better treatment and potentially save countless children’s lives.
- Benefits for research: The reliable and consistent criteria will aid medical researchers studying sepsis and developing new treatments.
- Tools under development: Researchers are already working on clinical decision support tools and future screening methods based on the new criteria.
Overall, the updated pediatric sepsis definition is a significant advancement with the potential to significantly improve diagnosis, treatment, and research on this life-threatening condition in children worldwide.
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Study source: https://news.cuanschutz.edu/dbmi/cu-researchers-unveil-modernized-criteria-for-pediatric-sepsis-and-septic-shock
