Summary
Definition
History and exam
Key diagnostic factors
- presença de fatores de risco
- febre ou baixa temperatura corporal
- taquipneia
- taquicardia
- bradicardia (neonatos e lactentes)
- estado mental ou comportamento alterados
- perfusão periférica deficiente
- alteração no padrão usual de atividade ou alimentação em um neonato
- fraldas secas/débito urinário diminuído
- medicina pediátrica e hebiátrica, aspecto acinzentado, cianose
- baixa saturação de oxigênio
- vasoplegia
- erupção cutânea purpúrea que não desaparece à digitopressão
Other diagnostic factors
- hipotensão
- sinais e sintomas focais específicos que refletem a patologia subjacente
Risk factors
- imunodeficiência
- comorbidades
- sexo masculino
- idade mais precoce (principalmente neonatos)
- fatores de risco perinatais de infecção (neonatos)
- fatores associados aos cuidados de saúde (neonatos)
- cirurgia recente ou outros procedimentos invasivos
- integridade cutânea prejudicada
Diagnostic tests
1st tests to order
- Hemograma completo com diferencial
- glicose sérica
- hemocultura
- urinálise
- urocultura
- gasometria
- lactato sérico
- eletrólitos séricos
- creatinina sérica
- TFHs
- exames de coagulação
- proteína C-reativa
- radiografia torácica
Tests to consider
- punção lombar
- análise meningocócica da reação em cadeia da polimerase
- cultura da lavagem broncoalveolar
- reação em cadeia da polimerase do vírus do herpes simples (HSV) (sangue e líquido cefalorraquidiano)
- tomografia computadorizada (TC) do tórax
- Ultrassonografia abdominal
- tomografia computadorizada (TC) abdominal
Emerging tests
- procalcitonina sérica
- novos biomarcadores
- Kit PhenoTest™ BC
Treatment algorithm
sepse presumida ou confirmada
Contributors
Authors
Akash Deep, MD, FRCPCH
Director and Professor of Paediatric Critical Care
Paediatric Intensive Care Unit
King’s College Hospital
London
UK
Disclosures
AD declares that he is an advisory board member for Mallonckrodt.
Chris Duncan, BMBS, BMedSci, MRCP, FFICM, FEWM, RMP, PGCert
ST7 Intensive Care Medicine
Barts Health NHS Trust
London
UK
Disclosures
CD declares that he has no competing interests.
Acknowledgements
Dr Akash Deep and Dr Chris Duncan would like to gratefully acknowledge Dr Jeremy Tong and Dr Adrian Plunkett, previous contributors to this topic.
Disclosures
JT and AP are authors involved in the Paediatric Sepsis Six initiative, cited in this topic.
Peer reviewers
Saul N. Faust, MA, MBBS, FRCPCH, PhD, FHEA
Professor of Paediatric Immunology & Infectious Diseases
Director, NIHR Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Facility
University of Southampton
Southampton
UK
Disclosures
SNF declares that he has no competing interests.
Mohan Pammi, MBBS, MD, MRCPCH
Assistant Professor
Texas Children's Hospital and Baylor College of Medicine
Houston
TX
Disclosures
MP declares that he has no competing interests.
Jerry J. Zimmerman, MD, PhD
Faculty, Pediatric Critical Care Medicine
Seattle Children's Hospital
University of Washington School of Medicine
Seattle
WA
Disclosures
JJZ receives research grant support from NIH/NICHD and ImmuneXpress; travel reimbursement from the Society of Critical Care Medicine to attend board meetings; and royalties from Elsevier for action as a co-editor for the textbook Pediatric Critical Care.
Peer reviewer acknowledgements
BMJ Best Practice topics are updated on a rolling basis in line with developments in evidence and guidance. The peer reviewers listed here have reviewed the content at least once during the history of the topic.
Disclosures
Peer reviewer affiliations and disclosures pertain to the time of the review.
References
Key articles
Goldstein B, Giroir B, Randolph A; International Consensus Conference on Pediatric Sepsis. International pediatric sepsis consensus conference: definitions for sepsis and organ dysfunction in pediatrics. Pediatr Crit Care Med. 2005 Jan;6(1):2-8. Abstract
Schlapbach LJ, Watson RS, Sorce LR, et al. International consensus criteria for pediatric sepsis and septic shock. JAMA. 2024 Feb 27;331(8):665-74. Abstract
Weiss SL, Peters MJ, Alhazzani W, et al. Surviving Sepsis Campaign international guidelines for the management of septic shock and sepsis-associated organ dysfunction in children. Pediatr Crit Care Med. 2020 Feb;21(2):e52-e106.Full text Abstract
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Suspected sepsis: recognition, diagnosis and early management. Mar 2024 [internet publication].Full text
Davis AL, Carcillo JA, Aneja RK, et al. American College of Critical Care Medicine clinical practice parameters for hemodynamic support of pediatric and neonatal septic shock. Crit Care Med. 2017 Jun;45(6):1061-93.Full text Abstract
Reference articles
A full list of sources referenced in this topic is available to users with access to all of BMJ Best Practice.

Differentials
- Doença do coronavírus 2019 (COVID-19)
- Síndrome inflamatória multissistêmica pediátrica
- Cardiopatia congênita
More DifferentialsGuidelines
- Suspected sepsis: recognition, diagnosis and early management
- Neonatal infection: antibiotics for prevention and treatment
More GuidelinesPatient information
Vacina pneumocócica em bebês e crianças
Sepse em crianças
More Patient informationLog in or subscribe to access all of BMJ Best Practice
Use of this content is subject to our disclaimer