Evidence of Poor Utility of Current Sepsis Screening Tools in an At-risk Population of Children With Community-Acquired Pneumonia.

BACKGROUND

Children (6-24 kg) with lower respiratory tract infections were prospectively recruited in emergency departments to high or low doses of oral amoxicillin. We identified children who met the criteria for medium and high risks of sepsis, as per the UK's National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). Of those able to be discharged with oral antibiotics; 54% (318/591) had high-risk sepsis criteria. NICE sepsis guidance is poorly specific, with implications for antimicrobial resistance and iatrogenic patient harm.

METHODS

Children (6-24 kg) with lower respiratory tract infections were prospectively recruited in emergency departments to high or low doses of oral amoxicillin.

RESULTS

Of those able to be discharged with oral antibiotics, 54% (318/591) had high-risk sepsis criteria as per the UK's NICE.

CONCLUSIONS

NICE sepsis guidance is poorly specific, with implications for antimicrobial resistance and iatrogenic patient harm.