Pediatric Sepsis Cases Contribute to More Than 1,800 Children’s Deaths Annually in U.S.: Study

Researchers are calling for the development of better sepsis detection criteria for children so the condition can be treated earlier, which could save lives.

According to new research, about one out of every five children who die in a hospital do so as a result of complications from sepsis, highlighting the importance of developing better methods of detecting and treating the dangerous pediatric infections.

In a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) on March 22, researchers concluded pediatric sepsis cases affect more than 18,000 children every year, with 10% of those ending in death.

Childhood Sepsis Risks

Sepsis is a life-threatening medical condition that occurs when the body’s immune system fails to fight off a serious infection, allowing it to spread and damage vital organs. Common symptoms include low blood pressure, an elevated heart rate, confusion, shortness of breath and signs of organ dysfunction. Without prompt treatment, sepsis can quickly become fatal.

Even after recovery, children who suffer from sepsis may also face an increased risk of developing other conditions, including underdeveloped immune systems or organs, chronic respiratory failure, nutritional dependence and chronic kidney disease. According to a 2022 study, one-fifth of all children who survive sepsis develop progressive adverse health conditions.

In 2024, researchers proposed refining how sepsis is defined in children by using the Phoenix Sepsis Score, along with the presence of at least two indicators, such as respiratory dysfunction or coagulation abnormalities. Findings showed that children meeting these criteria faced a significantly higher risk of death from sepsis.

Pediatric Sepsis Study

For the new study, a multidisciplinary group of researchers from Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute and other institutions analyzed data for more than 3.9 million pediatric hospitalizations from 2016 to 2023.

Led by Dr. Chanu Rhee, the research team wanted to create more accurate criteria for identifying sepsis in child patients than using medical billing codes. They used a Pediatric Sepsis Event (PSE) definition adapted from the 2024 Phoenix Criteria for scalable electronic health record-based surveillance. The PSE used routinely captured clinical data including lab results, antibiotic use and markers of organ dysfunction.

Researchers analyzed two healthcare data sets, including data from nearly 400 healthcare systems. The PSE definition identified sepsis in 1.3% of cases reviewed, with a 10% rate of in-hospital death. Moreover, sepsis was present in nearly 19% of pediatric hospitalizations that eventually led to death.

The data indicates there are more than 18,000 pediatric sepsis cases every year. The researchers determined roughly one out of every 75 children hospitalized for any reason will develop sepsis, and 10% of those children, or about 1,800 will die from the condition.

“Hospital-onset sepsis accounted for 27% of cases and had higher mortality than community-onset events, underscoring its importance for prevention and quality improvement.”

— Dr. Chanu Rhee, National Estimates of Pediatric Sepsis in US Hospitals Using Clinical Data

Researchers said this is the first national estimate of pediatric sepsis using clinical data and could help establish criteria for tracking sepsis cases across healthcare systems. They concluded that the results emphasize the importance of sepsis early detection and infection prevention efforts.

Medical Scope Infections and Sepsis Risks

While many cases of pediatric sepsis develop from common infections, there is growing concern about preventable infections linked to contaminated or improperly cleaned medical scopes and devices. Medical scopes, such as endoscopes and bronchoscopes, are flexible instruments used to examine a child’s internal organs and perform minimally invasive procedures, making them a common tool in pediatric care.

However, a series of medical scope infection lawsuits have been filed, each raising allegations that certain reusable scopes were defectively designed in a way that prevents them from being fully sterilized between uses. As a result, bacteria may remain inside the devices, increasing the risk of transmitting infections from one patient to another, including dangerous and drug-resistant organisms.

These infections can be particularly dangerous for children, as they may quickly progress to sepsis if not identified and treated early. Reports tied to medical scope outbreaks have involved serious complications, including bloodstream infections and organ damage, which are known precursors to sepsis.

To learn more about contaminated medical scopes infection risks, visit our medical scope infection lawsuit page.

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