Time for paediatrics to screen out sepsis “screening”
It is time to remove the term, “sepsis screen,” from the paediatric lexicon, argue these authors Despite the success of vaccinations against organisms such as Haemophilus influenza type B and Neisseria meningitidis,1 mortality and morbidity from these invasive infections remains high. One in five deaths in children were associated with infection pre-pandemic.2 This includes neonates who are particularly vulnerable due to immature immune systems and, in whom worldwide, infection rates have increased over the last 20 years.3 The sequelae of infection can cause lasting morbidity, through limb amputation, chronic respiratory disease and organ impairment, as well as death. As such, an aggressive approach is often taken to managing infection in children, particularly in the pre-school period, including a low threshold for numerous investigations and empirical antibiotics. The practice of investigating febrile children has become so common, its own terminology, the “sepsis screen” has develop