Sepsis, severe sepsis and septic shock in paediatric multiple organ dysfunction syndrome

OBJECTIVES: To determine the association between severity of sepsis with outcome and severity of illness in children with multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS). MATERIALS: Four hundred and ninety-five consecutive paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) admissions were analysed. multiple organ dysfunction syndrome was defined as simultaneous dysfunction of >/= 2 organ system and sepsis by the American College of Chest Physicians and Society of Critical Care Medicine Consensus Conference definition. RESULTS: Eighty-four patients developed MODS. The incidence of sepsis, severe sepsis and septic shock in these patients was 10.7%, 23.8% and 17.9%, respectively. Worsening categories of sepsis were associated with: (1) a higher mean admission Paediatric Risk of Mortality (PRISM II): 36.6 +/- 25.9, 56.8 +/- 32.1 and 73.6 +/- 28.5%, respectively (P = 0. 005), (2) a larger number of organ dysfunctions: mean MODS index of 37%, 46% and 58%, respectively (P = 0.007), and (3) a higher mortality: 22.2%, 65% and 80%, respectively (P = 0.03). CONCLUSION: Presence of sepsis, severe sepsis and septic shock was associated with an increasing severity of illness, increased number of organ dysfunctions and a distinct risk of mortality among critically ill children.