Sepsis

Sepsis exists on a spectrum of illness, from mild fevers with systemic symptoms to multi-organ system dysfunction and ultimately shock. It can occur with any type of infection and can be life threatening in severity. Sepsis is the most common form of shock seen in pediatrics. Sepsis can be challenging to recognize given the variability of its presentation, but patients typically will have fever and elevated heart rates, progressing to low blood pressure and other signs of organ dysfunction. Rapid recognition and treatment of sepsis are vital to minimizing the clinical impact. The mainstays of treatment for sepsis include rapid initiation of protocol-based care, including IV fluids, antibiotics, and identification and treatment of the underlying infection. This chapter will focus on diagnosis of sepsis, sepsis treatment, special considerations for specific bacterial illnesses such as pyelonephritis and meningitis, and evaluation of special populations including febrile neonates.