Epidemiology of pediatric severe sepsis and septic shock in Turkey: Prevalence, Results and Treatments Study

Aim: This study was aimed at characterizing the prevalence, management, and outcomes of pediatric severe sepsis and septic shock in tertiary pediatric intensive care units (PICUs) in Turkey.

Methods: A point prevalence study was conducted on five days over the course of one year in 29 PICUs in Turkey. Outcomes included severe sepsis and septic shock point prevalence, therapies used, duration of PICU stay, and mortality at day 28.

Results: Of the 1757 children who were admitted to the PICU during the study period, 141 (8.0%) children met the consensus criteria for severe sepsis and 23 (1.3%) children met the criteria for septic shock. Pediatric severe sepsis and septic shock accounted for 8% and 1.3% of all PICU admissions, respectively. The median age of the patients was 2.6 years (interquartile range (IQR), 0.7-8.6 years). Enteral nutrition (79.3%) was preferred compared to parenteral nutrition (31.1%) for the first 3 days after PICU admission. A total of 39 patients died while in the PICU, for a 23.8% mortality rate, which did not vary by age.

Conclusion: The mortality rate was similar to that in other studies. Hematologic-immunologic comorbidity, parenteral nutrition and the use of vasoactive drugs were independently associated with mortality.