Fluid Resuscitation for Suspected Sepsis in Paediatric Emergency Departments

FRESSPED study was conducted over 5 weeks, the last week of each month, between November 2021 and March 2022 (11/29 - 12/05 ; 12/27 - 01/02 ; 01/24 - 30/01 ; 02/21 - 02/27 ; 03/21 - 03/27). Patients were followed up one month after inclusion, extending the study period until midnight on 28 April 2022.

FRESSPED study was conducted in three stages :

• Evaluation of usual fluid bolus therapy practice in infants and children with suspected sepsis in French paediatric emergency departments, through the prospectively anonymous completion of a paper case report form (CRF) designed to be completed in less than 5 minutes, within 72 hours of inclusion, by each doctor in one of the participating centers caring for an eligible patient
• Questioning of participating doctors at the end of the 5-week prospective data collection period, to explore the underlying reasons of doctors non-adherence to the SSC-2020 guidelines. It will take the form of a short, anonymized and blinded of centers outcomes, online survey to assess attitudes and knowledge, without inter-center or inter-individual comparisons (except for doctors seniority)
• Description of characteristics and outcomes of included patients, by consultation, up to 1 month after inclusion, of data collected in routine care (patient chart) by the lead researcher (Julian San GEROTEO).

In addition to the above criteria, the suspicion of sepsis was confirmed retrospectively in doubtful or non-documented cases or those without microbiological documentation, using an adjudication committee composed of two medical experts particularly important in the absence of a ""gold standard"" definition of paediatric sepsis to date.

Inclusion criteria

• Newborns (discharged from the maternity ward after full-term birth or over 39 SA corrected age) and children (under 18 years of age) admitted to the UAS of a participating center during the study period.
• Suspected sepsis according to the American Academy of Pediatrics criteria (at least 3 of the 8 criteria or 2 if high-risk patient* among dysthermia, hypotension, tachycardia, polypnea, abnormalities in CRT, pulse rate, skin and neurological examination) and blood cultures or anti-infectives prescribed within 72 hours.

• Cancer, severe encephalopathy (non walking, non communicating), central line and immunosuppression (marrow or organ transplantation, asplenia including sickle cell disease, neutropenia, constitutional immune deficiency&) immunosuppressive or immunomodulatory treatment including corticoids within 6 months)
• Having received at least one RV (at least 5ml/kg of crystalloids or colloids in less than 60 min or of 60 min or identified as such in the patient's medical record)

Exclusion criteria

• Parent (or legal guardian) objection to data collection.