Definition of sepsis and septic shock in neonates and children

The Society of Critical Care Medicine Pediatric Sepsis Definition Task Force introduced the Phoenix sepsis criteria in 2024. These international consensus criteria provide a definition of sepsis and septic shock but, at the time of writing, they have not been validated for use in the Australian context.

The Phoenix sepsis criteria define sepsis as life-threatening organ dysfunction due to infection, with a scoring system determining organ dysfunction. Although these criteria may be appropriate for use in the critical care and research settings, they were not designed to screen neonates and children at risk of developing sepsis or for early identification of sepsisSchlapbach, 2024. For early identification and diagnosis of sepsis and septic shock in neonates and children, refer to local guidelines (if available) and see Approach to assessing sepsis or septic shock in neonates and children.