Management of Sepsis and Septic Shock in Children: Surviving Sepsis Campaign International Guidelines 2026.

Authors

Saroj Kumar Tripathy, Sarthak Das, Md Ehtesham Ansari

Published in

Indian pediatrics. Jun 22, 2026. Epub Jun 22, 2026.

Abstract

Sepsis is one of the leading causes of mortality and morbidity in children. The pediatric-specific Surviving Sepsis Campaign (SSC) guidelines 2026 introduce probable sepsis, suspected septic shock, and septic shock with persistent hypoperfusion to practically involve all children, aged ≥ 37 weeks at birth to 18 years, with acute infection and organ dysfunction. Key changes in these guidelines include measuring blood lactate at initial assessment, early antimicrobial therapy, implementation of performance improvement programs in hospitals, and the use of cardiac and lung point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS), a conservative oxygen strategy (SpO₂ target 88-92%), and early rehabilitation. The 2026 update highlights flexibility, early recognition, cautious intervention, and long-term recovery, while recognizing considerable gaps in evidence that warrant further research.

PMID:
42329352
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 22 Jun 2026.

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