Performance of the Phoenix sepsis score in patients with suspected sepsis and/or septic shock in the pediatric emergency department. Retrospective observational study.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31698/ped.52032025005bKeywords:
Sepsis, septic shock, Pediatric, Phoenix score, pediatric emergencyAbstract
Introduction: Sepsis can trigger life-threatening organ dysfunction.
Objective: To evaluate the performance of the Phoenix Sepsis Score (PSS) in pediatric patients with clinical suspicion of sepsis and/or septic shock during the first 24 hours after admission to the Pediatric Emergency Department (PED) and subsequent admission to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU).
Methodology: Observational, descriptive, and cross-sectional study, with analytical and retrospective components. Data were obtained from the electronic databases of the PED, the Hospital Information System (HIS), and the laboratory. Pediatric patients with clinical suspicion of sepsis or septic shock in the PED between April and November 2024 were included. Demographic, clinical, and laboratory variables: age, sex, origin, pediatric assessment triangle, PSS, medical interventions, comorbidities, clinical course, vaccination status, infectious focus, procedures, and PICU admission. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS v21. The protocol was approved by the ethics committee.
Results: A total of 160 patients were included. Of these, 36.9% met PSS criteria (27% with sepsis and 73% with septic shock). The PSS showed a sensitivity of 93% and specificity of 76% for predicting PICU admission within the first 6 hours, and a sensitivity of 94% and specificity of 79% at 12 hours. One death was recorded in a patient with a positive PSS.
Conclusion: The PSS demonstrated adequate performance as a predictor of PICU admission within the first 6 and 12 hours after PED admission, with high sensitivity (93–94%) and moderate specificity (76–79%).
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