Sepsis in Kids: It’s Not a Small Problem
Recorded On: 09/17/2020
Description:
A toddler presents to your emergency department with fever and tachycardia. Should you be concerned? Rapid recognition and timely, evidence-based interventions are critical in the care of the pediatric patient with suspected sepsis. This session will review pediatric epidemiology and key concepts in understanding sepsis in children, and will walk through the most up-to-date guidelines and recommendations for care.
Learning Objectives:
At the end of the activity, the learner should be able to:
- Recognize the impact of sepsis on pediatric mobility and mortality;
- Discuss the similarities and differences between pediatric and adult sepsis;
- Identify current evidence-based guidelines for recognition and management of pediatric sepsis.
Target Audience:
Nurses, advanced practice providers, physicians, emergency responders, pharmacists, medical technologists, respiratory therapists, physical/occupational therapists, infection prevention specialists, data/quality specialists, and more.
Mary Kate Abbadessa, MSN, ACCNS-P, RN, RN-BC, CPEN
Clinical Nurse Specialist - Emergency Department; Pediatric Sepsis Program
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Mary Kate Abbadessa is the Clinical Nurse Specialist in the Emergency Department (ED) at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). She completed undergraduate and graduate studies at Villanova University, earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a Master of Science in Nursing Education, as well as a Post-Master’s certificate from the Pediatric Critical Care Clinical Nurse Specialist program at the University of Pennsylvania. She joined the CHOP ED in 2009, with past experience in pre-hospital and adult emergency care, as well as pediatric PACU and neonatal nursing. Ms. Abbadessa’s clinical and research interests include the care of the child with fever, resuscitation, and trauma. Ms. Abbadessa has been the ED nursing clinical champion for sepsis since 2012, serves as the nursing lead for CHOP’s Pediatric Sepsis Program and the co-lead for the hospital’s sepsis governance committee for quality improvement. Ms. Abbadessa is an active member of the Children’s Hospital Association’s Sepsis Collaborative and a 2018 recipient of the Erin’s Campaign for Kids Nursing award for Sepsis.
Scott L. Weiss, MD, MSCE, FCCM
Assistant Professor and Attending Physician
University of Pennsylvania and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
Dr. Weiss completed medical school at Harvard, pediatric residency at Boston Children’s Hospital, and pediatric critical care fellowship at Northwestern/Lurie Children’s Hospital. He currently serves as the co-Vice Chair for the SCCM/ESICM Pediatric Surviving Sepsis Campaign Taskforce. Dr. Weiss’ clinical focus is pediatric sepsis and his NIH-funded research focuses on epidemiology and mitochondrial dysfunction in pediatric sepsis, including risk factors, biomarkers, and mechanisms of sepsis-induced immune dysregulation and organ dysfunction. Dr. Weiss co-directs the Pediatric Sepsis Program at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, which includes post-hospital follow-up for children and their families through the Pediatric Sepsis Survivorship Program.
Provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider Number CEP17068 for 1.5 contact hours.
Other healthcare professionals will receive a certificate of attendance for 1.25 contact hours.
Medical Disclaimer
The information on or available through this site is intended for educational purposes only. Sepsis Alliance does not represent or guarantee that information on or available through this site is applicable to any specific patient’s care or treatment. The educational content on or available through this site does not constitute medical advice from a physician and is not to be used as a substitute for treatment or advice from a practicing physician or other healthcare professional. Sepsis Alliance recommends users consult their physician or healthcare professional regarding any questions about whether the information on or available through this site might apply to their individual treatment or care.