Pediatric sepsis definitions: past, present, and future

Abstract

Objective: To review the past, present, and future definitions of sepsis and the systemic inflammatory response syndrome in children.

Methods: Review of the literature.

Results: The history and development of the adult-derived sepsis syndrome and its application to pediatric-specific sepsis definitions is provided. Initially, only adult definitions were applied to pediatric studies. Recently, pediatric-specific definitions have been published. The pediatric consensus conference-derived definitions for systemic inflammatory response syndrome, sepsis, severe sepsis, and septic shock are summarized, and their limitations are discussed.

Conclusions: The potential value and inconsistencies of the current pediatric-specific sepsis definitions are discussed. Future direction of the definitions and their applications are presented.