Pediatrics 8: Sepsis Portal
PEDS: Because this entire portal pertains only to pediatric patients, the convention of underlining has been omitted.
Sepsis in
Children (bacteremia without focus on source)
(Non-immunocompromised children > 2 months of age)
Note: Initially treat any sepsis in children < 2 months as meningitis. (See Vol III PED9, Meningitis.) For children over the age of 2 months, consider meningitis in any child who appears toxic.
Usual Bacterial Etiologies include H influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and meningococci. In children who have received the recommended course of conjugate H influenzae vaccine, invasive H influenzae disease has virtually disappeared without an increase in other organisms.
Treatment Regimens:
Primary choices:
- cefotaxime (Claforan) 50 mg/kg every 8 hours IV (or)
- ceftriaxone (Rocephin) 50-75 mg/kg every 24 hours IV