Systems for Paediatric Sepsis: A Global Survey.

Area of Science:

• Pediatric critical care medicine
• Global health disparities in healthcare access
• Infectious disease management

Background:

• Pediatric sepsis is a life-threatening condition requiring prompt recognition and management.
• Significant variations exist in healthcare resource availability and quality between developed and developing countries.
• Understanding these disparities is crucial for improving global pediatric sepsis outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the availability of resources for early diagnosis and treatment of pediatric sepsis.
• To identify barriers to optimal sepsis care in hospitals worldwide.
• To compare resources in developing versus developed countries.

Main Methods:

• A voluntary online survey was distributed to 101 hospitals across 41 countries.
• Participants were solicited via the World Federation of Pediatric Intensive and Critical Care Societies network.
• The survey evaluated sepsis epidemiology, therapies, resource availability, and treatment barriers.

Main Results:

• Over 20% of centers lacked adequate triage services, and 40% reported insufficient trained personnel or sepsis protocols.
• While 78% had sepsis management guidelines, nearly 70% did not apply sepsis assessment protocols.
• Over 50% identified lack of parental recognition and referral center diagnostic failures as major barriers.

Conclusions:

• Deficits in pediatric sepsis care persist, even in resource-rich settings.
• Enhanced triage, support for referring centers, and public awareness are vital for early recognition and management.
• Further research is needed to address specific institutional barriers to optimal sepsis care.