Epidemiology of paediatric severe sepsis and septic shock in Turkey: Prevalence, results and treatments study

Aim: This study was aimed at characterising the prevalence, management and outcomes of paediatric severe sepsis and septic shock in tertiary paediatric intensive care units (PICUs) in Turkey. Methods: A point prevalence study was conducted on 5 days over the course of 1 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. Paediatric 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.