Study: Sepsis linked to nearly 1 in 5 pediatric hospital deaths

WASHINGTON — A study funded by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is providing new data on the far-reaching impact that sepsis has on children nationwide.

The study, published in JAMA, analyzed data from more than 3.9 million pediatric hospitalizations in the U.S. and found sepsis occurred in a significant number of child patients.

The study’s researchers estimated the following:

• More than 18,000 hospitalized children have sepsis each year, including more than 1,800 who do not survive to discharge.
• Sepsis occurs in about 1 in every 75 pediatric hospitalizations. 
• Most cases of sepsis in children (73%) started in the community. 
• About 1 in 10 children with sepsis died during hospitalization. 
• Nearly 1 in 5 pediatric hospital deaths involved sepsis.

“With the new validated measurement approach, we can better identify trends, improve patient safety, and guide strategies to get ahead of sepsis,” CDC officials said in an emailed press release on Wednesday. “CDC remains committed to strengthening national surveillance of sepsis, working with health care partners to turn this data into action, and improving patient care for children nationwide.”

The CDC urged health care professionals across the country to implement its sepsis program core elements, which include case tracking, reporting and accountability measures. Officials also told doctors to educate themselves on the signs and symptoms of sepsis, since 73% of cases began in the community.

Caregivers and parents should refer to the CDC’s sepsis fact sheet to learn how to properly stop an infection before it leads to sepsis, officials said.