Sepsis Prevention Support

We Help Support Sepsis Research​

Pediatric sepsis affects millions of children worldwide every year, and carries a high risk of severe illness and even death. Sepsis is the most common cause of death in hospitalized children in the country, including in Rhode Island. While sepsis occurs most commonly in patients with chronic conditions or the extremes of life, it also occurs in healthy children. In sepsis the body has a dysregulated response to common infections.

 

Early sepsis in children often overlaps routine illness and is currently difficult to predict. While there are recognizable signs and symptoms of sepsis, not enough is currently known about its underlying causes. Thus, pediatric sepsis research is a critical forefront in health care efforts. Current global research efforts include, but are not limited to:

• Sepsis prevention

• Development of s valid sepsis screening and assessment tools

• Early identification and warning signs of sepsis for providers and families

• Early and targeted goal-oriented intervention (the crucial first hour)

• Identifying children with severe sepsis and septic shock

• Finding and utilizing biomarkers to tell us which patients have early signs of severe bacterial infections that require antibiotics

• New treatments for bacterial infections including development of new classes and combinations of antibiotics and immune therapies for resistant organisms

• Educating our friends and family about antibiotic resistance, and what antibiotics can and cannot treat

• Investigation into genetic and immune markers of sepsis risk and different sepsis syndromes

• Improving long-term outcomes for survivors of sepsis

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