OBJECTIVE
Standardized, consistent reporting of social determinants of health (SDOH) in studies on children with sepsis would allow for: 1) understanding the association of SDOH with illness severity and outcomes, 2) comparing populations and extrapolating study results, and 3) identification of potentially modifiable socioeconomic factors for policy makers. We, therefore, sought to determine how frequently data on SDOH were reported, which factors were collected and how these factors were defined in studies of sepsis in children.


DATA SOURCES AND SELECTION
We reviewed 106 articles (published between 2005 and 2020) utilized in a recent systematic review on physiologic criteria for pediatric sepsis.


DATA EXTRACTION
Data were extracted by two reviewers on variables that fell within the World Health Organization's SDOH categories.


DATA SYNTHESIS
SDOH were not the primary outcome in any of the included studies. Seventeen percent of articles (18/106) did not report on any SDOH, and a further 36.8% (39/106) only reported on gender/sex. Of the remaining 46.2% of articles, the most reported SDOH categories were preadmission nutritional status (35.8%, 38/106) and race/ethnicity (18.9%, 20/106). However, no two studies used the same definition of the variables reported within each of these categories. Six studies reported on socioeconomic status (3.8%, 6/106), including two from upper-middle-income and four from lower middle-income countries. Only three studies reported on parental education levels (2.8%, 3/106). No study reported on parental job security or structural conflict.


CONCLUSIONS
We found overall low reporting of SDOH and marked variability in categorizations and definitions of SDOH variables. Consistent and standardized reporting of SDOH in pediatric sepsis studies is needed to understand the role these factors play in the development and severity of sepsis, to compare and extrapolate study results between settings and to implement policies aimed at improving socioeconomic conditions related to sepsis.

Reporting of Social Determinants of Health in Pediatric Sepsis Studies.

Background: Sepsis is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in children worldwide, with around 75,000 inpatients each year and nearly 50% dying in pediatric hospitals. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in childhood is a malignancy originating from lymphoid progenitor cells, usually at the age of 2–6 years. Children with ALL contribute 30% to childhood cancer cases under 15 years old. Sepsis in pediatric patients increases mortality significantly. A previous study showed that the prevalence of sepsis in pediatrics is still high. Thus, this study aims to report ALL patients with sepsis in our institution. Methods: This study was a descriptive cross-sectional study at the National Cancer Center (NCC) - Dharmais Cancer Hospital. We recruited acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) patients aged 2-18 years with suspected or documented sepsis based on Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (SIRS) by The International Consensus Conference on Pediatric Sepsis. The data were collected by medical records from January 2014 to December 2018. Results: A total of 94 pediatric patients in the study included 57 males and 37 females with an average age of 5 years. The age range was 1–18 years with a median age of 5 years. The prevalence of sepsis in pediatric with ALL was 11 patients (11.7%) and 45.5% of deaths. The clinical conditions were as follows: abnormal temperature (8 [72.7%]), abnormal blood pressure, systolic (7 [63.6%]) and diastolic (7 [63.6%]), abnormal pulse rate (9 [81.8%]), abnormal respiratory rate (8 [72.7%]), and normal saturation (6 [54.5%]). We also did a laboratory check followed by all sepsis patients who had abnormal leukocytes (11 [100%]), and abnormal lymphocytes count (8 [72.7%]). Conclusions: The mortality rate and prevalence of sepsis in children with ALL in our institution are still high. Further prospective studies are required to explore the risk factors and predictors of sepsis based on its severity and adherence of health workers to implement guidelines on patients with sepsis in the hospital.

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Sepsis in Children with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

In determining management strategies and resource allocation, especially, in resource‐limited countries, it is imperative to study the predictors of outcomes of disease. With increased awareness about the global impact of sepsis and a renewed interest in fighting the sepsis,[1] the recent report by Shah et al. is quite timely.[2] It focuses on predictors of outcomes of sepsis in children in India. Evaluation of prognostic factors that determine outcomes of sepsis, allows appropriate preventive measures to decrease overall mortality related to sepsis.

Predictors of outcomes of severe sepsis in children in the Indian subcontinent - What's the big picture?

Abstract Background We explored the differences in baseline characteristics, pathogens, complications, outcomes, and risk factors between children with hospital-acquired septic shock (HASS) and community-acquired septic shock (CASS) in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). Methods This retrospective study enrolled children with septic shock at the PICU of Beijing Children’s Hospital from January 1, 2016, to December 31, 2019. The patients were followed up until 28 days after shock or death and were divided into the HASS and CASS group. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify risk factors for mortality. Results A total of 298 children were enrolled. Among them, 65.9% ( n = 91) of HASS patients had hematologic/oncologic diseases, mainly with Gram-negative bacterial bloodstream infections (47.3%). Additionally, 67.7% ( n = 207) of CASS patients had no obvious underlying disease, and most experienced Gram-positive bacterial infections (30.9%) of the respiratory or central nervous system. The 28-day mortality was 62.6% and 32.7% in the HASS and CASS groups, respectively ( P &lt; 0.001). Platelet [odds ratio (OR) = 0.996, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.992–1.000, P = 0.028], positive pathogen detection (OR = 3.557, 95% CI = 1.307–9.684, P = 0.013), and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (OR = 10.953, 95% CI = 1.974–60.775, P = 0.006) were risk factors for 28-day mortality in HASS patients. Lactate (OR = 1.104, 95% CI = 1.022–1.192, P = 0.012) and mechanical ventilation (OR = 8.114, 95% CI = 1.806–36.465, P = 0.006) were risk factors for 28-day mortality in patients with CASS. Conclusions The underlying diseases, pathogens, complications, prognosis, and mortality rates varied widely between the HASS and CASS groups. The predictors of 28-day mortality were different between HASS and CASS pediatric patients with septic shock. 

/pdf/comparison-between-hospital-and-community-acquired-septic-1puonuph.pdf

Comparison between hospital- and community-acquired septic shock in children: a single-center retrospective cohort study

Title: Delayed Presentation and Mortality in Children with Sepsis in a Public Tertiary Care Hospital in Tanzania Authors: Smith AM, Sawe HR, Matthay MA, Murray BL, Reynolds TA, Kortz TB Background: Over 40% of the global burden of sepsis occurs in children under five years of age, making pediatric sepsis the top cause of death for this age group. Prior studies have shown that outcomes in children with sepsis improve by minimizing the time between symptom onset and treatment. This is a challenge in resource-limited settings where access to definitive care is limited. Methods: A secondary analysis was performed on data from 1803 patients (28 days – 14 years old) who presented to the emergency department (ED) at Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH) from July 1, 2016 to June 30, 2017 with a suspected infection and ≥ 2 clinical systemic inflammatory response syndrome criteria. The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between delayed presentation to definitive care (>48 hours between fever onset and presentation to the ED) and mortality, as well as the association between socioeconomic status (SES) and delayed presentation. Multivariable logistic regression models tested the two relationships of interest. We report both unadjusted and adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals. Results: During the study period, 11.3% (n=203) of children who presented to MNH with sepsis died inhospital. Delayed presentation was more common in non-survivors (n=90/151, 60%) compared to survivors (n=614/1353, 45%) (p≤0.01). Children who had delayed presentation to definitive care, compared to those who did not, had an adjusted odds ratio for mortality of 1.85 (95% CI: 1.17 - 3.00). Conclusions: Delayed presentation was an independent risk factor for mortality in this cohort, emphasizing the importance of timely presentation to care for pediatric sepsis patients. Potential interventions include more efficient referral networks and emergency transportation systems to MNH. Additional clinics or hospitals with pediatric critical care may reduce pediatric sepsis mortality in Tanzania, as well as parental education programs for recognizing pediatric sepsis.

Delayed Presentation and Mortality in Children With Sepsis in a Public Tertiary Care Hospital in Tanzania

Introduction: There is a paucity of studies on the progression and outcome of Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (SIRS) with its determinants. Aims and Objectives: To determine the predictors of the outcome and progression of pediatric sepsis and septic shock. Materials and Methods: Prospective observational study of children fulfilling criteria of SIRS and their progression to sepsis, severe sepsis, and septic shock (clinically and biochemically) was conducted at a tertiary care center. Results: Totally, 200 children were recruited over a period of 21 months (from February 2016 to October 2017). Most cases (80, 40%) were infants. Of the total, 188 (94%) cases were of an infective etiology (mostly respiratory system). Temperature and heart rate were the two commonest SIRS parameters which were deranged. Blood cultures were positive in only 25 (12.5%) cases. Out of the total 200 children, 108 progressed to sepsis, of which 26 progressed to severe sepsis, of which 22 progressed to septic shock. Abnormal leukocyte count, culture positivity and severe acute malnutrition were significantly associated with progression of SIRS patients to septic shock (P = 0.001, 0.00001 and 0.002, respectively). Factors associated with mortality were positive blood culture, multiorgan dysfunction, late hospital admissions, severe acute malnutrition, and requirement of supportive care (P values-

S Shah

Papers

The predictors of outcome and progression of pediatric sepsis and septic shock: A prospective observational study from western India.