Association Between the First-Hour Intravenous Fluid Volume and Mortality in Pediatric Septic Shock.

2022

213-224

05/2022

1097-6760

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the receipt of more than or equal to 30 mL/kg of intravenous fluid in the first hour after emergency department (ED) arrival is associated with sepsis-attributable mortality among children with hypotensive septic shock.

METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort study set in 57 EDs in the Improving Pediatric Sepsis Outcomes quality improvement collaborative. Patients less than 18 years of age with hypotensive septic shock who received their first intravenous fluid bolus within 1 hour of arrival at the ED were propensity-score matched for probability of receiving more than or equal to 30 mL/kg in the first hour. Sepsis-attributable mortality was compared. We secondarily evaluated the association between the first-hour fluid volume and sepsis-attributable mortality in all children with suspected sepsis in the first hour after arrival at the ED, regardless of blood pressure.

RESULTS: Of the 1,982 subjects who had hypotensive septic shock and received a first fluid bolus within 1 hour of arrival at the ED, 1,204 subjects were propensity matched. In the matched patients receiving more than or equal to 30 mL/kg of fluid, 26 (4.3%) of 602 subjects had 30-day sepsis-attributable mortality compared with 25 (4.2%) of 602 receiving less than 30 mL/kg (odds ratio 1.04, 95% confidence interval 0.59 to 1.83). Among the patients with suspected sepsis regardless of blood pressure, 30-day sepsis-attributable mortality was 3.0% in those receiving more than or equal to 30 mL/kg versus 2.0% in those receiving less than 30 ml/kg (odds ratio 1.52, 95% confidence interval 0.95 to 2.44.) CONCLUSION: In children with hypotensive septic shock receiving a timely first fluid bolus within the first hour of ED care, receiving more than or equal to 30 mL/kg of bolus intravenous fluids in the first hour after arrival at the ED was not associated with mortality compared with receiving less than 30 mL/kg.

10.1016/j.annemergmed.2022.04.008

Ann Emerg Med

35641356

Pediatric Septic Shock Collaborative Improves Emergency Department Sepsis Care in Children.

2022

2022 Mar 01

1098-4275

<p><strong>OBJECTIVES: </strong>The pediatric emergency department (ED)-based Pediatric Septic Shock Collaborative (PSSC) aimed to improve mortality and key care processes among children with presumed septic shock.</p>

<p><strong>METHODS: </strong>This was a multicenter learning and improvement collaborative of 19 pediatric EDs from November 2013 to May 2016 with shared screening and patient identification recommendations, bundles of care, and educational materials. Process metrics included minutes to initial vital sign assessment and to first and third fluid bolus and antibiotic administration. Outcomes included 3- and 30-day all-cause in-hospital mortality, hospital and ICU lengths of stay, hours on increased ventilation (including new and increases from chronic baseline in invasive and noninvasive ventilation), and hours on vasoactive agent support. Analysis used statistical process control charts and included both the overall sample and an ICU subgroup.</p>

<p><strong>RESULTS: </strong>Process improvements were noted in timely vital sign assessment and receipt of antibiotics in the overall group. Timely first bolus and antibiotics improved in the ICU subgroup. There was a decrease in 30-day all-cause in-hospital mortality in the overall sample.</p>

<p><strong>CONCLUSIONS: </strong>A multicenter pediatric ED improvement collaborative showed improvement in key processes for early sepsis management and demonstrated that a bundled quality improvement-focused approach to sepsis management can be effective in improving care.</p>

10.1542/peds.2020-007369

Pediatrics

35229124

Predicting Adverse Outcomes for Shiga Toxin-Producing E. coli Infections in Emergency Departments.

2021

2021 Jan 05

1097-6833

<p><strong>OBJECTIVE: </strong>To assess the performance of a hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) severity score among children with Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) infections and HUS by stratifying them according to their risk of adverse events. The score has not been previously evaluated in a North American acute care setting.</p>

<p><strong>STUDY DESIGN: </strong>We reviewed medical records of children &lt;18 years old infected with STEC and treated in one of 38 participating EDs in North America between 2011 and 2015. The HUS severity score [hemoglobin (g/dL) plus two-times serum creatinine (mg/dL)] was calculated using first available laboratory results. Children with scores &gt;13 were designated as high-risk. We assessed score performance to predict severe adverse events (ie, dialysis, neurologic complication, respiratory failure and death) using discrimination and net benefit (i.e. threshold probability), with subgroup analyses by age and day-of-illness.</p>

<p><strong>RESULTS: </strong>A total of 167 children had HUS, of whom 92.8% (155/167) had relevant data to calculate the score; 60.6% (94/155) experienced a severe adverse event. Discrimination was acceptable overall (AUC 0.71, 95% CI 0.63, 0.79) and better among children &lt;5 years old (AUC 0.77, 95% CI 0.68, 0.87). For children &lt;5 years, greatest net benefit was achieved for a threshold probability &gt;26%.</p>

<p><strong>CONCLUSIONS: </strong>The HUS severity score was able to discriminate between high- and low-risk children &lt;5 years old with STEC-associated HUS at a statistically acceptable level; however, it did not appear to provide clinical benefit at a meaningful risk threshold.</p>

10.1016/j.jpeds.2020.12.077

J Pediatr

33417918

Updates on pediatric sepsis.

2020

981-993

2020 Oct

2688-1152

<p>Sepsis, defined as an infection with dysregulated host response leading to life-threatening organ dysfunction, continues to carry a high potential for morbidity and mortality in children. The recognition of sepsis in children in the emergency department (ED) can be challenging, related to the high prevalence of common febrile infections, poor specificity of discriminating features, and the capacity of children to compensate until advanced stages of shock. Sepsis outcomes are strongly dependent on the timeliness of recognition and treatment, which has led to the successful implementation of quality improvement programs, increasing the reliability of sepsis treatment in many US institutions. We review clinical, laboratory, and technical modalities that can be incorporated into ED practice to facilitate the recognition, treatment, and reassessment of children with suspected sepsis. The 2020 updated pediatric sepsis guidelines are reviewed and framed in the context of ED interventions, including guidelines for antibiotic administration, fluid resuscitation, and the use of vasoactive agents. Despite a large body of literature on pediatric sepsis epidemiology in recent years, the evidence base for treatment and management components remains limited, implying an urgent need for large trials in this field. In conclusion, although the burden and impact of pediatric sepsis remains substantial, progress in our understanding of the disease and its management have led to revised guidelines and the available data emphasizes the importance of local quality improvement programs.</p>

10.1002/emp2.12173

J Am Coll Emerg Physicians Open

33145549

Predicting Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome and Renal Failure in Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli Infected Children.

2019

2019 May 24

1537-6591

<p><strong>BACKGROUND: </strong>Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) infections are leading causes of pediatric acute renal failure. Identifying hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) risk factors is needed to guide care.</p>

<p><strong>METHODS: </strong>We conducted a multicenter, historical-cohort study to identify features associated with development of HUS (primary outcome) and need for renal replacement therapy (RRT) (secondary outcome) in STEC-infected children without HUS at initial presentation. Children &lt;18 years who submitted STEC-positive specimens between January 2011 and December 2015 at a participating study institution were eligible.</p>

<p><strong>RESULTS: </strong>Of 927 STEC-infected children, 41 (4.4%) had HUS at presentation; of the remaining 886, 126 (14.2%) developed HUS. Predictors of HUS included younger age (OR: 0.77; 95%CI: 0.69, 0.85/year), leukocyte count ≥13.0x103/μL (2.54; 1.42, 4.54), higher hematocrit (1.83; 1.21, 2.77/5% increase) and serum creatinine (10.82; 1.49, 78.69/1 mg/dL increase), platelet count &lt;250 ×103/μL (1.92; 1.02, 3.60), lower serum sodium (1.12; 1.02, 1.23/1 mmol/L decrease), and intravenous fluid administration initiated ≥4 days following diarrhea onset (2.50; 1.14, 5.46). A longer interval from diarrhea onset to index visit was associated with reduced HUS risk (0.70; 0.54, 0.90). RRT predictors included female sex (2.27; 1.14, 4.50), younger age (0.83; 0.74, 0.92/year), lower serum sodium (1.15; 1.04, 1.27/mmol/L decrease), higher leukocyte count ≥13.0x103/μL (2.35; 1.17, 4.72) and creatinine (7.75; 1.20, 50.16/1 mg/dL increase) concentrations, and initial intravenous fluid administration ≥4 days following diarrhea onset (2.71; 1.18, 6.21).</p>

<p><strong>CONCLUSIONS: </strong>The complex nature of STEC infection renders predicting its course a challenge. Risk factors we identified highlight the importance of avoiding dehydration and performing close clinical and laboratory monitoring.</p>

10.1093/cid/ciz432

Clin. Infect. Dis.

31125419