Clinical Practice Guidelines: Suspected Sepsis for Pediatric Patients on the Acute Care Floor

CLINICAL PRACTICE GUIDELINES (FULL LIST)

SUSPECTED SEPSIS FOR PEDIATRIC PATIENTS ON THE ACUTE CARE FLOOR (CPG)

Summary statement

Early recognition and prompt treatment of sepsis with goal-directed therapy improves outcomes, but recognition in children can be challenging given the low specificity in abnormal vital signs or single screening test/tool alone in identifying children in the early stages of sepsis or septic shock. This Clinical Practice Guideline (CPG) provides a general approach for clinicians to consider in evaluating patients who may have or be at risk of developing early sepsis. The CPG Flowchart will guide clinicians through a care pathway centered around bedside sepsis screening, bedside assessment and huddle, treatment (including use of Sepsis Order Set as applicable), and reassessment.

References

  1. Children’s Hospital Association. Improving Pediatric Sepsis Outcomes (IPSO) Change Package (1st ed.). Washington, DC. Children’s Hospital Association. 2025.
  2. 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;45(6):1061-1093.
  3. Eisenberg, M.A., Balamuth, F. Pediatric sepsis screening in US hospitals. Pediatr Res 91, 351–358 (2022).
  4. Weiss S, Peters MJ, Oczkowski SJ, et al. Surviving Sepsis Campaign international guidelines for the management of sepsis and septic shock in children 2026. Pediatric Crit Care Med. 2026 Mar 23.

Acute Care Sepsis guideline team

  • Contact: David Finkler, Hospital Medicine
  • Stephanie Doupnik, Hospital Medicine
  • Alison Herndon, Hospital Medicine
  • Kristina Betters, Critical Care
  • Sophie Katz, Infectious Diseases
  • Herchel Portella, Critical Care
  • Catherine Milwee, Critical Care
  • Whitney Browning, Hospital Medicine