Staff Education Improves Compliance with Pediatric Septic Shock Guidelines

In a study at a tertiary pediatric emergency department, researchers compared identification of patients with septic shock at triage, compliance with guidelines, and clinical outcomes before and after institution of a staff education program on the current national guidelines for pediatric septic shock. Ninety-eight patients with septic shock presented during the 2 years before implementation, 70 presented during the year of implementation, and 177 presented during the year after implementation (overall age range, 1 day to 18 years; median age, 5.7 years).

Compared with the preimplementation period, in the postimplementation period, compliance improved significantly in three key care elements: administration of 20 mL/kg of normal saline in t…