Abstract
Severe sepsis (SS) in pediatric oncology patients is a leading cause of morbidity
and mortality. We investigated the incidence of and risk factors for morbidity and
mortality among children diagnosed with cancer from 2008 to 2012, and admitted with
SS during the 3 years following cancer diagnosis. A total of 1,002 children with cancer
were included, 8% of whom required pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) admission
with SS. Death and/or multiple organ dysfunction syndrome occurred in 34 out of 99
PICU encounters (34%). Lactate level and history of stem-cell transplantation were
significantly associated with the development of death and/or organ dysfunction (p < 0.05).
Keywords
sepsis - septic shock - oncology - morbidity and mortality