[Tissue perfusion monitoring in children with acute circulatory dysfunction: narrative review]. / Monitorización de la perfusión tisular en el niño con disfunción circulatoria aguda: revisión narrativa.

Sepsis is one of the main causes of admission to Intensive Care Units (ICU). The hemodynamic objectives usually sought during the resuscitation of the patient in septic shock correspond to macrohemodynamic parameters (heart rate, blood pressure, central venous pressure). However, persistent alterations in microcirculation, despite the restoration of macrohemodynamic parameters, can cause organ failure. This dissociation between the macrocirculation and microcirculation originates the need to evaluate organ tissue perfusion, the most commonly used being urinary output, lactatemia, central venous oxygen saturation (ScvO2), and veno-arterial pCO2 gap. Because peripheral tissues, such as the skin, are sensitive to disturbances in perfusion, noninvasive monitoring of peripheral circulation, such as skin temperature gradient, capillary refill time, mottling score, and peripheral perfusion index may be helpful as early markers of the existence of systemic hemodynamic alterations. Peripheral circulation monitoring techniques are relatively easy to interpret and can be used directly at the patient's bedside. This approach can be quickly applied in the intra- or extra-ICU setting. The objective of this narrative review is to analyze the various existing tissue perfusion markers and to update the evidence that allows guiding hemodynamic support in a more individualized therapy for each patient.

Progressive multiple organ dysfunction syndrome in adolescent pregnancy: Case report. / Síndrome de disfunción orgánica múltiple progresiva en embarazo adolescente: reporte de caso clínico.

Introduction: Adolescent pregnancy is a physiological process, but it can evolve with premature delivery, severe obstetric or clinical pathologies, mortality, or sequelae for mother and child. We aim to report the progressive multiple organ dysfunction syndrome secondary to pyelonephritis and sepsis during prepartum, delivery, and puerperium of adolescent pregnancy and its sequelae. Case report: A 14-year-old adolescent with a pregnancy of 27 weeks of gestation controlled from 8 to 25 weeks. She was urgently admitted to the high-risk obstetric unit due to signs of preterm labor, pyelonephritis, and acute renal injury. Treatment was started with intravenous cefazolin and betamethasone for lung maturation, oral nifedipine, and magnesium sulfate to prevent preterm labor and fetal neuronal protection, evolving with sustained hypotension and septic shock. At 13 hours after admission, she was transferred to the intensive care unit, where she evolved with persistent and progressive multiple organ failure for 28 days, progressively affecting the cardiovascular, hematologic, respiratory, and gastrointestinal systems. She was treated with vasoactive drugs, antibiotics, invasive mechanical ventilation, ultrafiltration, hemodialysis, pleural drainage, and cholecystectomy. Twenty-four hours after admission to intensive care, preterm vaginal delivery occurred. She developed chronic kidney disease stage KDIGO 5 (Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes V) and is awaiting renal transplantation. On the other hand, the preterm newborn presented severe neonatal asphyxia, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, and hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. Conclusion: Complicated adolescent pregnancy is a health emergency. Avoiding delays in the diagnosis and treatment of pyelonephritis, septic shock and the progressive multiple organ dysfunction syndrome can prevent mortality and permanent sequelae, both maternal and neonatal.

Introducción: El embarazo adolescente es un proceso fisiológico, pero puede evolucionar con parto prematuro, patologías obstétricas o médicas graves, mortalidad o secuelas para madre e hijo/a. Nuestro objetivo es reportar el síndrome de disfunción orgánica múltiple progresiva secundario a pielonefritis y sepsis ocurrido durante el preparto, parto y puerperio de embarazo adolescente y sus secuelas. Caso clínico: Adolescente de 14 años, con embarazo de 27 semanas de gestación controlado desde las 8 hasta 25 semanas. Ingresó de urgencia en unidad de alto riesgo obstétrico por signos de parto prematuro, pielonefritis e injuria renal aguda. Se inició tratamiento con cefazolina intravenosa y betametasona para maduración pulmonar, nifedipino oral y sulfato de magnesio para prevención del parto prematuro y protección neuronal fetal, evolucionando con hipotensión sostenida y shock séptico. A las 13 horas después del ingreso, fue trasladada a unidad de paciente crítico donde evolucionó con falla orgánica múltiple persistente y progresiva durante 28 días, afectando sucesivamente los sistemas cardiovascular, hematológico, respiratorio y gastrointestinal. Se trató con drogas vasoactivas, antibióticos, ventilación mecánica invasiva, ultrafiltración, hemodiálisis, drenaje pleural y colecistectomía. A las 24 horas de ingreso a cuidado intensivo, ocurrió el parto prematuro vaginal. La embarazada desarrolló enfermedad renal crónica etapa KDIGO 5 ( V) y se encuentra en espera de trasplante renal. Por su parte, la recién nacida prematura viva presentó asfixia neonatal severa, displasia broncopulmonar y encefalopatía hipóxico-isquémica.El embarazo adolescente complicado es una emergencia sanitaria. El diagnóstico y manejo oportuno de la pielonefritis, shock séptico y disfunción orgánica asociada a la sepsis pueden evitar mortalidad y secuelas permanentes materna y/o neonatal.

Síndrome de disfunción orgánica múltiple progresiva en embarazo adolescente: reporte de caso clínico / Progressive multiple organ dysfunction syndrome in adolescent pregnancy: case report

INTRODUCCIÓN: El embarazo adolescente es un proceso fisiológico, pero puede evolucionar con parto prematuro, patologías obstétricas o médicas graves, mortalidad o secuelas para madre e hijo/a. Nuestro objetivo es reportar el síndrome de disfunción orgánica múltiple progresiva secundario a pielonefritis y sepsis ocurrido durante el preparto, parto y puerperio de embarazo adolescente y sus secuelas. CASO CLÍNIO: Adolescente de 14 años, con embarazo de 27 semanas de gestación controlado desde las 8 hasta 25 semanas. Ingresó de urgencia en unidad de alto riesgo obstétrico por signos de parto prematuro, pielonefritis e injuria renal aguda. Se inició tratamiento con cefazolina intravenosa y betametasona para maduración pulmonar, nifedipino oral y sulfato de magnesio para prevención del parto prematuro y protección neuronal fetal, evolucionando con hipotensión sostenida y shock séptico. A las 13 horas después del ingreso, fue trasladada a unidad de paciente crítico donde evolucionó con falla orgánica múltiple persistente y progresiva durante 28 días, afectando sucesivamente los sistemas cardiovascular, hematológico, respiratorio y gastrointestinal. Se trató con drogas vasoactivas, antibióticos, ventilación mecánica invasiva, ultrafiltración, hemodiálisis, drenaje pleural y colecistectomía. A las 24 horas de ingreso a cuidado intensivo, ocurrió el parto prematuro vaginal. La embarazada desarrolló enfermedad renal crónica etapa KDIGO 5 ( V) y se encuentra en espera de trasplante renal. Por su parte, la recién nacida prematura viva presentó asfixia neonatal severa, displasia broncopulmonar y encefalopatía hipóxico-isquémica. CONCLUSIONES: El embarazo adolescente complicado es una emergencia sanitaria. El diagnóstico y manejo oportuno de la pielonefritis, shock séptico y disfunción orgánica asociada a la sepsis pueden evitar mortalidad y secuelas permanentes materna y/o neonatal.

INTRODUCTION: Adolescent pregnancy is a physiological process, but it can evolve with premature delivery, severe obstetric or clinical pathologies, mortality, or sequelae for mother and child. We aim to report the progressive multiple organ dysfunction syndrome secondary to pyelonephritis and sepsis during prepartum, delivery, and puerperium of adolescent pregnancy and its sequelae. CASE REPORT: A 14-year-old adolescent with a pregnancy of 27 weeks of gestation controlled from 8 to 25 weeks. She was urgently admitted to the high-risk obstetric unit due to signs of preterm labor, pyelonephritis, and acute renal injury. Treatment was started with intravenous cefazolin and betamethasone for lung maturation, oral nifedipine, and magnesium sulfate to prevent preterm labor and fetal neuronal protection, evolving with sustained hypotension and septic shock. At 13 hours after admission, she was transferred to the intensive care unit, where she evolved with persistent and progressive multiple organ failure for 28 days, progressively affecting the cardiovascular, hematologic, respiratory, and gastrointestinal systems. She was treated with vasoactive drugs, antibiotics, invasive mechanical ventilation, ultrafiltration, hemodialysis, pleural drainage, and cholecystectomy. Twenty-four hours after admission to intensive care, preterm vaginal delivery occurred. She developed chronic kidney disease stage KDIGO 5 (Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes V) and is awaiting renal transplantation. On the other hand, the preterm newborn presented severe neonatal asphyxia, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, and hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. CONCLUSION: Complicated adolescent pregnancy is a health emergency. Avoiding delays in the diagnosis and treatment of pyelonephritis, septic shock and the progressive multiple organ dysfunction syndrome can prevent mortality and permanent sequelae, both maternal and neonatal.

Characteristics and Outcomes of Culture-Positive and Culture-Negative Pediatric Sepsis.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the outcomes of pediatric severe sepsis and septic shock among patients with culture-positive and culture-negative sepsis and to determine if there are differentiating markers of disease severity between these 2 populations during their initial presentation and emergency department (ED) stay. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study of patients ≤21 years of age who presented to the ED of a single children's hospital with severe sepsis or septic shock from June 1, 2017 to June 5, 2019. RESULTS: There were 235 patients who met criteria for severe sepsis or septic shock. Of these, 139 (59.1%) had culture-negative sepsis and 96 (40.9%) had culture-positive sepsis. In the adjusted multivariable model, children with culture-negative sepsis had more intensive care unit (ICU)-free days than those with culture-positive sepsis (27.3 vs 24.1; adjusted median differences [aMD] -2.6 [-4.4, -0.8]). There were no differences in mortality or hospital-free days. On initial presentation, there were no differences in fever, hypothermia, tachycardia, tachypnea, or hypotension between the 2 groups. There were no differences in proportion of patients receiving the following interventions: intravenous (IV) antibiotics, IV fluids, vasoactive medications, CPR, intubation, or time from arrival to provision of these interventions. CONCLUSIONS: Culture-negative sepsis constitutes a substantial proportion of pediatric severe sepsis and septic shock. In this study, patients with culture-negative and culture-positive sepsis presented similarly on arrival to the ED and received similar treatments while there. Patients with culture-negative sepsis had more ICU-free days than those with culture-positive sepsis, although differences in hospital length of stay (LOS) and mortality were not observed.

[Correlation between the shock index and the anaerobic index]. / Correlación entre el índice de choque y el índice anaerobio.

Background: Shock is defined as an acute circulatory insufficiency that causes cellular dysfunction. The shock index (SI) and the anaerobic index or the relationship between the veno-arterial gradient of carbon dioxide and the difference between the arterial and venous content of O2 [∆P(v-a)CO2/ΔC(a-v)O2] are markers of systemic hypoperfusion. Objective: To determine if there is a correlation between the SI and the anaerobic index in patients with circulatory shock. Material and methods: Observational and prospective study in patients with circulatory shock. The SI and the anaerobic index were calculated at admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) and during their stay. Pearson's correlation coefficient was calculated and the association of SI with mortality was explored with bivariate logistic regression. Results: 59 patients aged 55.5 (± 16.5) years, 54.3% men, were analyzed. The most frequent type of shock was hypovolemic (40.7%). They had SOFA score: 8.4 (± 3.2) and APACHE II: 18.5 (± 6). The SI was: 0.93 (± 0.32) and the anaerobic index: 2.3 (± 1.3). Global correlation was r = 0.15; at admission r = 0.29; after 6 hours: r = 0.19; after 24 hours: r = 0.18; after 48 hours: r = 0.44, and after 72 hours: r = 0.66. The SI > 1 at ICU admission had an OR 3.8 (95% CI: 1.31-11.02), p = 0.01. Conclusions: The SI and the anaerobic index have a weak positive correlation during the first 48 hours of circulatory shock. The SI > 1 is a possible risk factor for death in patients with circulatory shock.

Introducción: el choque se define como una insuficiencia circulatoria aguda que ocasiona disfunción celular. El índice de choque (ICh) y el índice anaerobio o relación entre el gradiente veno-arterial de dióxido de carbono y la diferencia entre el contenido arterial y venoso de O2 [∆P(v-a)CO2/ΔC(a-v)O2] son marcadores de hipoperfusión sistémica. Objetivo: determinar si existe correlación entre el ICh y el índice anaerobio en pacientes con choque circulatorio. Material y métodos: estudio observacional y prospectivo en pacientes con choque circulatorio. Se calcularon el ICh y el índice anaerobio al ingreso a la unidad de cuidados intensivos (UCI) y durante su estancia. Se calculó el coeficiente de correlación de Pearson y se exploró la asociación del ICh con la mortalidad con una regresión logística bivariada. Resultados: se analizaron 59 pacientes de 55.5 (± 16.5) años, 54.3% hombres. El tipo de choque más frecuente fue el hipovolémico (40.7%). Tuvieron puntaje SOFA: 8.4 (± 3.2) y APACHE II: 18.5 (± 6). El ICh fue: 0.93 (± 0.32) y el índice anaerobio: 2.3 (± 1.3). La correlación global fue r = 0.15; al ingreso: r = 0.29; a las 6 horas: r = 0.19; a las 24 horas: r = 0.18; a las 48 horas: r = 0.44, y a las 72 horas: r = 0.66. El ICh > 1 al ingreso a la UCI tuvo una RM 3.8 (IC 95%: 1.31-11.02), p = 0.01. Conclusiones: el ICh y el índice anaerobio tienen una correlación positiva débil durante las primeras 48 horas del choque circulatorio. El ICh > 1 es un posible factor de riesgo de muerte en pacientes con choque circulatorio.

Perfil de pacientes com sepse e choque séptico em um hospital de trauma: estudo transversal / Profile of patients with sepsis and septic shock in a trauma hospital: cross-sectional study / Perfil de pacientes con sepsis y shock séptico en un hospital de trauma: estudio transversal

Objetivo: Avaliar o perfil e o desfecho clínico de pacientes com sepse e choque séptico em um hospital de trauma de Belo Horizonte. Métodos: Trata-se de estudo transversal, retrospectivo e descritivo dos casos de sepse e choque séptico. Resultados: Constatou-se que 97 (73%) pacientes eram do sexo masculino, com idade entre 19 e 59 anos, 87 (65%) previamente hígidos. Principal motivo de internação foi queda da própria altura com 23 (17%) casos e 37 (28%) diagnósticos de trauma crânio encefálico. Oitenta e seis (65%) pacientes tiveram diagnóstico de sepse e 47 (35%) choque séptico, o principal foco de infecção foi pulmonar 83 (62%). Obtivemos 88 (66%) resultados de hemoculturas negativas e 45 (34%) positivas, 64 (48%) pacientes receberam antibiótico em até 60 minutos após o diagnóstico e o tempo de internação mais prevalente após o evento séptico foi de 7 dias, representado por 31 (46%) pacientes que já estavam internados em uma Unidade de Terapia Intensiva (UTI). Mortalidade de 37 (28%) e 96 (72%) sobreviventes da população estudada. Conclusão: O evento séptico é um problema de saúde pública e tem alta letalidade em pacientes traumatizados. (AU)

Objective: To evaluate the profile and clinical outcome of patients with sepsis and septic shock in a trauma hospital in Belo Horizonte. Methods: This is a cross-sectional, retrospective and descriptive study of cases of sepsis and septic shock. Results: It was found that 97 (73%) patients were male, aged 19 to 59 years, 87 (65%) were previously healthy. Main reason for hospitalization was a fall from one's own height with 23 (17%) cases and 37 (28%) diagnosis of traumatic brain injury. Eighty-six (65%) patients were diagnosed with sepsis and 47 (35%) septic shock, the main focus of infection was pulmonary 83 (62%). We got 88 (66%) negative blood culture results and 45 (34%) positive, 64 (48%) patients received antibiotics within 60 minutes after diagnosis and the most prevalent hospital stay after septic event was 7 days, represented by 31 (46%) patients who were already hospitalized in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Mortality of 37 (28%) and 96 (72%) survivors of the population studied. Conclusion: Septic event is a public health problem and has high lethality in traumatized patients. (AU)

Objetivo: Evaluar el perfil y el resultado clínico de los pacientes con sepsis y shock séptico en un hospital de trauma en Belo Horizonte. Métodos: Este es un estudio transversal, retrospectivo y descriptivo de casos de sepsis y shock séptico. Resultados: Se encontró que 97 (73%) pacientes eran hombres, de 19 a 59 años, 87 (65%) antes estaban sanos. La razón principal de la hospitalización fue una caída desde la propia altura con 23 (17%) casos y 37 (28%) diagnóstico de lesión cerebral traumática. Ochenta y seis (65%) pacientes fueron diagnosticados con sepsis y 47 (35%) shock séptico, el foco principal de infección fue pulmonar 83 (62%). Tenemos 88 (66%) resultados negativos del cultivo sanguíneo y 45 (34%) positivo, 64 (48%) los pacientes recibieron antibióticos dentro de los 60 minutos posteriores al diagnóstico y la estancia hospitalaria más frecuente después del evento séptico fue de 7 días, representados por 31 (46%) pacientes que ya estaban hospitalizados en una Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos (UCI). Mortalidad de 37 (28%) y 96 (72%) sobrevivientes de la población estudiada. Conclusión: El evento séptico es un problema de salud pública y tiene alta letalidad en pacientes traumatizados. (AU)

Síndrome Inflamatória Multissistêmica Pediátrica (SIM-P) em crianças e adolescente com até 19 anos de idade, temporalmente associada à Covid-19 / Pediatric Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome (P-SIM) in children and adolescents up to 19 years of age, temporally associated with Covid-19

A Síndrome Inflamatória Multissistêmica Pediátrica (SIM-P) é uma condição que afeta e prejudica diversas partes do corpo, incluindo coração, pulmões, rins, cérebro, pele, olhos ou órgãos gastrointestinais. É uma síndrome rara que ainda necessita de estudo. No entanto, é sabido que muitas crianças que apresentaram SIM-P tiveram o vírus que causa a COVID-19 ou entraram em contato com alguém com COVID-19. A SIM-P pode ser grave e fatal, e grande parte dos casos pode necessitar de internação em unidade de terapia intensiva

Epidemiology and outcomes of septic shock in children with complex chronic conditions in a developing country PICU.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of Complex Chronic Conditions (CCCs) on the outcomes of pediatric patients with refractory septic shock, as well as the accuracy of PELOD-2 and Vasoactive Inotropic Score (VIS) to predict mortality in this specific population. METHODS: This is a single-center, retrospective cohort study. All patients diagnosed with septic shock requiring vasoactive drugs admitted to a 13-bed PICU in southern Brazil, between January 2016 and July 2018, were included. Clinical and demographic characteristics, presence of CCCs and VIS, and PELOD-2 scores were accessed by reviewing electronic medical records. The main outcome was considered PICU mortality. RESULTS: 218 patients with septic shock requiring vasoactive drugs were identified in the 30-month period and 72% of them had at least one CCC. Overall mortality was 22%. Comparing to patients without previous comorbidities, those with CCCs had a higher mortality (26.7% vs 9.8%; OR = 3.4 [1.3-8.4]) and longer hospital length of stay (29.3 vs 14.8; OR 2.39 [1.1- 5.3]). Among the subgroups of CCCs, "Malignancy" was particularly associated with mortality (OR = 2.3 [1.0-5.1]). VIS and PELOD-2 scores in 24 and 48 hours were associated with mortality and a PELOD-2 in 48 hours > 8 had the best performance in predicting mortality in patients with CCC (AUROC = 0.89). CONCLUSION: Patients with CCCs accounted for the majority of those admitted to the PICU with septic shock and related to poor outcomes. The high prevalence of hospitalizations, use of resources, and significant mortality determine that patients with CCCs should be considered a priority in the healthcare system.

[Extreme electrolyte depletion associated with septic shock as a form of presentation of cystic fibrosis]. / Depleción electrolítica extrema asociada con shock séptico como forma de presentación de fibrosis quística.

In the pediatric emergency department, dehydrated children are one of the most frequent causes for consultation, however, the coexistence of hyponatremia with hypochloremia and metabolic alkalosis is rare. The presence of metabolic alkalosis due to chloride depletion has been reported as a form of presentation of Cystic Fibrosis (CF). OBJECTIVE: to describe a case of cystic fibrosis of unusual presen tation in a pediatric patient. CLINICAL CASE: we report a 3-month-old previously healthy male infant who presented with internal environment abnormalities consisting of metabolic alkalosis, hypona tremia, hypokalemia, and extreme hypochloremia associated with septic shock due to mixed viral- bacterial pneumonia (Rhino/enterovirus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Staphylococcus aureus). Cys tic fibrosis (CF) was suspected, thus the diagnosis was corroborated by sweat test and genetic study which showed the pathogenic variants c.2834C>T (p.Ser945Leu) and c.3484C>T (p.Arg1162X), both heterozygous. CONCLUSION: special attention should be paid to the existence of hypochloremia with metabolic alkalosis and hyponatremia associated or not with pulmonary disease, suspecting CF as the first option. This consideration becomes more relevant in those countries where the neonatal screening test is not widely available.

Epidemiology and treatment of sepsis at a public pediatric emergency department.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical characteristics and treatment of children with sepsis, severe sepsis, and septic shock at a pediatric emergency department of a public hospital. METHODS: A retrospective, observational study. The medical records of patients included in the hospital Pediatric Sepsis Protocol and patients with discharge ICD-10 A41.9 (sepsis, unspecified), R57 (shock) and A39 (meningococcal meningitis) were evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 399 patients were included. The prevalence of sepsis, severe sepsis, and septic shock at the emergency room were 0.41%, 0.14% and 0.014%, respectively. The median age was 21.5 months for sepsis, 12 months for severe sepsis, and 20.5 months for septic shock. Sepsis, severe sepsis, and septic shock were more often associated with respiratory diseases. The Respiratory Syncytial Virus was the most common agent. The median time to antibiotic and fluid administration was 3 hours in patients with sepsis and severe sepsis. In patients with septic shock, the median times to administer antibiotics, fluid and vasoactive drugs were 2 hours, 2.5 hours and 6 hours, respectively. The median length of hospital stay for patients with sepsis, severe sepsis and septic shock were 3 days, 4 days and 1 day, respectively. The overall mortality was 2%. CONCLUSION: Sepsis had a low prevalence. Early diagnosis and recognition are a challenge for the emergency care pediatrician, the first place of admission.

Effect of methylene blue on hemodynamic and metabolic response in septic shock patients.

INTRODUCTION: Septic shock is a lethal disease responsible for a large proportion of deaths in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), even with therapy centered on fluid resuscitation, use of vasopressors and empirical antibiotic therapy applied within the first hour of diagnosis. Considering the multifactorial pathophysiology of septic shock and the mechanism of action of vasopressors, some patients may not respond adequately, which can lead to the maintenance of vasodilatation, hypotension and increased morbidity, and mortality. This protocol aims to verify whether the use of methylene blue in septic patients with an early diagnosis can contribute to an earlier resolution of a shock compared to standard treatment. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This is a study protocol for a single-center randomized clinical trial design in an ICU of a tertiary university hospital. In this study, we intend to include 64 patients aged between 18 and 80 years with a diagnosis of septic shock, of any etiology, with up to 72 hours of evolution after volume restoration, using norepinephrine at a dose ≥0.2 µg/kg/min and vasopressin at a dose of 0.04 IU/min. After the initial approach, we will randomize patients into two groups, standard care, and standard care plus methylene blue. The sample size was calculated in order to show 30% differences in septic shock resolution between groups. The Research Ethics Committee approved the study, and all patients included will sign an informed consent form (Clinical registration: RBR-96584w4).

Epidemiology and treatment of sepsis at a public pediatric emergency department

ABSTRACT Objective To describe the clinical characteristics and treatment of children with sepsis, severe sepsis, and septic shock at a pediatric emergency department of a public hospital. Methods A retrospective, observational study. The medical records of patients included in the hospital Pediatric Sepsis Protocol and patients with discharge ICD-10 A41.9 (sepsis, unspecified), R57 (shock) and A39 (meningococcal meningitis) were evaluated. Results A total of 399 patients were included. The prevalence of sepsis, severe sepsis, and septic shock at the emergency room were 0.41%, 0.14% and 0.014%, respectively. The median age was 21.5 months for sepsis, 12 months for severe sepsis, and 20.5 months for septic shock. Sepsis, severe sepsis, and septic shock were more often associated with respiratory diseases. The Respiratory Syncytial Virus was the most common agent. The median time to antibiotic and fluid administration was 3 hours in patients with sepsis and severe sepsis. In patients with septic shock, the median times to administer antibiotics, fluid and vasoactive drugs were 2 hours, 2.5 hours and 6 hours, respectively. The median length of hospital stay for patients with sepsis, severe sepsis and septic shock were 3 days, 4 days and 1 day, respectively. The overall mortality was 2%. Conclusion Sepsis had a low prevalence. Early diagnosis and recognition are a challenge for the emergency care pediatrician, the first place of admission.

In-hospital mortality from severe COVID-19 in a tertiary care center in Mexico City; causes of death, risk factors and the impact of hospital saturation.

BACKGROUND: As the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic has remained in Latin America, Mexico has become the third country with the highest death rate worldwide. Data regarding in-hospital mortality and its risk factors, as well as the impact of hospital overcrowding in Latin America has not been thoroughly explored. METHODS AND FINDINGS: In this prospective cohort study, we enrolled consecutive adult patients hospitalized with severe confirmed COVID-19 pneumonia at a SARS-CoV-2 referral center in Mexico City from February 26th, 2020, to June 5th, 2020. A total of 800 patients were admitted with confirmed diagnosis, mean age was 51.9 ± 13.9 years, 61% were males, 85% were either obese or overweight, 30% had hypertension and 26% type 2 diabetes. From those 800, 559 recovered (69.9%) and 241 died (30.1%). Among survivors, 101 (18%) received invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) and 458 (82%) were managed outside the intensive care unit (ICU); mortality in the ICU was 49%. From the non-survivors, 45.6% (n = 110) did not receive full support due to lack of ICU bed availability. Within this subgroup the main cause of death was acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in 95% of the cases, whereas among the non-survivors who received full (n = 105) support the main cause of death was septic shock (45%) followed by ARDS (29%). The main risk factors associated with in-hospital death were male sex (RR 2.05, 95% CI 1.34-3.12), obesity (RR 1.62, 95% CI 1.14-2.32)-in particular morbid obesity (RR 3.38, 95%CI 1.63-7.00)-and oxygen saturation < 80% on admission (RR 4.8, 95%CI 3.26-7.31). CONCLUSIONS: In this study we found similar in-hospital and ICU mortality, as well as risk factors for mortality, compared to previous reports. However, 45% of the patients who did not survive justified admission to ICU but did not receive IMV / ICU care due to the unavailability of ICU beds. Furthermore, mortality rate over time was mainly due to the availability of ICU beds, indirectly suggesting that overcrowding was one of the main factors that contributed to hospital mortality.

Transcriptomic markers in pediatric septic shock prognosis: an integrative analysis of gene expression profiles.

The goal of this study was to identify potential transcriptomic markers in pediatric septic shock prognosis by an integrative analysis of multiple public microarray datasets. Using the R software and bioconductor packages, we performed a statistical analysis to identify differentially expressed (DE) genes in pediatric septic shock non-survivors, and further performed functional interpretation (enrichment analysis and co-expression network construction) and classification quality evaluation of the DE genes identified. Four microarray datasets (3 training datasets and 1 testing dataset, 252 pediatric patients with septic shock in total) were collected for the integrative analysis. A total of 32 DE genes (18 upregulated genes; 14 downregulated genes) were identified in pediatric septic shock non-survivors. Enrichment analysis revealed that those DE genes were strongly associated with acute inflammatory response to antigenic stimulus, response to yeast, and defense response to bacterium. A support vector machine classifier (non-survivors vs survivors) was also trained based on DE genes. In conclusion, the DE genes identified in this study are suggested as candidate transcriptomic markers for pediatric septic shock prognosis and provide novel insights into the progression of pediatric septic shock.

Challenges of implementing the Paediatric Surviving Sepsis Campaign International Guidelines 2020 in resource-limited settings: A real-world view beyond the academia.

The Surviving Sepsis Campaign International Guidelines for the Management of Septic Shock and Sepsis-associated Organ Dysfunction in Children was released in 2020 and is intended for use in all global settings that care for children with sepsis. However, practitioners managing children with sep sis in resource-limited settings (RLS) face several challenges and disease patterns not experienced by those in resource-rich settings. Based upon our collective experience from RLS, we aimed to reflect on the difficulties of implementing the international guidelines. We believe there is an urgent need for more evidence from RLS on feasible, efficacious approaches to the management of sepsis and septic shock that could be included in future context-specific guidelines.

[Myocardial dysfunction and its prognostic utility in sepsis and septic shock]. / Disfunción miocárdica y su utilidad pronóstica en sepsis y choque séptico.

BACKGROUND: Sepsis is a potentially mortal infection which is related to multiple organ dysfunction; it has a high morbidity and mortality. Myocardial dysfunction is frequent in sepsis and it is related to unfavorable outcomes. Objective: To describe by transthoracic echocardiography the clinical distribution of myocardial dysfunction in sepsis and septic shock and estimate its prognostic utility. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Cross-sectional study based on a multi-centric prospective cohort study in 4 reference centers in Bucaramanga, Colombia, and its metropolitan area. 271 patients with sepsis and septic shock were included; they underwent standard transthoracic echocardiography and a 30-day follow-up. RESULTS: There was no difference in the left ventricular ejection fraction (p = 0.061) between survivors and non-survivors. 51 patients (48.71%) had grade I diastolic dysfunction, 48 patients (14.52%) had grade II dysfunction and 21 patients (36.75%) had grade III diastolic dysfunction. Mortality was higher in patients with grade I diastolic dysfunction when compared to those with grade II dysfunction (p = 0.023). CONCLUSIONS: The higher mortality in grade I diastolic dysfunction suggests that patients with low filling pressures have worst outcomes. On the other hand, left ventricular ejection fraction per se is not associated with a higher mortality in sepsis.

INTRODUCCIÓN: la sepsis es una disfunción orgánica potencialmente mortal que está asociada a una infección; tiene alta morbilidad y mortalidad. La disfunción miocárdica asociada a sepsis es frecuente y se asocia con desenlaces desfavorables. OBJETIVO: describir la distribución de la disfunción miocárdica por ecocardiografía transtorácica y estimar su utilidad pronóstica en sepsis y choque séptico. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: estudio de cohorte multicéntrico prospectivo, realizado en cuatro centros de referencia de Bucaramanga y su área metropolitana. Se incluyeron 271 pacientes con diagnóstico de sepsis y choque séptico, a quienes se les realizó ecocardiograma transtorácico y se les dio seguimiento por 30 días. RESULTADOS: no hubo diferencias en la fracción de eyección del ventrículo izquierdo entre sobrevivientes a los 30 días y no sobrevivientes. Se registraron 51 pacientes (48.7%) con disfunción diastólica grado I, 14.5% con disfunción grado II y 36.75% con disfunción grado III. Los pacientes con disfunción diastólica grado I tuvieron una mortalidad más alta que aquellos con disfunción diastólica de grado II (p = 0.023). CONCLUSIONES: la mayor mortalidad registrada en la disfunción diastólica grado I sugiere que los pacientes con bajas presiones de llenado tienen peores desenlaces. Por otra parte, la fracción de eyección del ventrículo izquierdo por sí sola no se relaciona con mayor mortalidad en sepsis.