Pediatric Sepsis and Shock

This CME/CE course equips emergency medicine and pediatric emergency medicine providers with a comprehensive understanding of pediatric sepsis and septic shock. Pediatric sepsis presents unique challenges that differ substantially from adult cases, particularly in terms of presentation, progression, and response to treatment. Early recognition and prompt intervention are critical to improving outcomes and reducing mortality in pediatric patients. This activity covers the pathophysiology of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), the criteria for diagnosing sepsis and septic shock, and the current best practices in treatment. Providers will gain insights into pediatric-specific signs and symptoms, differences in vital sign thresholds, fluid resuscitation protocols, and the use of antibiotics and vasopressors in children. By completing this course, participants will be better prepared to recognize early warning signs, initiate life-saving interventions, and tailor treatment strategies to the pediatric population. This course emphasizes a multidisciplinary approach and aims to improve the quality of emergency care provided to critically ill children.

Educational Objectives

After completing this activity, the participant should be better able to:

• Describe Systemic Inflammatory Response (SIRS) syndrome, Sepsis, and Septic Shock.
• Review differences in pediatric versus adult presentation.
• Discuss evidence-based treatment options for pediatric sepsis and septic shock.

Who Should Do This Course

This course is ideal for Physicians, Nurses, and Physician Assistants specializing in Pediatrics, Emergency Medicine, Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Critical Care Medicine, and Infectious Disease. Healthcare professionals involved in the acute care and critical management of pediatric patients will significantly benefit from the insights and practical guidance provided in this training. This course also serves as an essential refresher for clinicians seeking to stay current with the latest clinical approaches to pediatric sepsis and septic shock.

Did You Know?

• Pediatric sepsis is responsible for more than 75,000 hospitalizations annually in the United States (Weiss et al., 2015).
• Mortality in pediatric septic shock remains as high as 10-20% despite advances in care (Balamuth et al., 2014).
• Early administration of antibiotics within the first hour significantly improves outcomes in pediatric sepsis (Han et al., 2003).
• The 2020 Surviving Sepsis Campaign International Guidelines include pediatric-specific recommendations for the first time (Weiss et al., 2020).