Viral sepsis in the pediatric intensive care unit

Andrew C. Argent; Brian Eley

doi:10.3233/JPI-2009-0160

Journal of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Table of Contents

J Pediatr Infect Dis 2009; 04(02): 161-172
DOI: 10.3233/JPI-2009-0160

Review Article

Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart – New York

Viral sepsis in the pediatric intensive care unit

Andrew C. Argent

^aPediatric Intensive Care Unit, Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital and Division of Pediatric Critical Care and Children's Heart Disease, School of Child and Adolescent Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa

,

Brian Eley

^bPediatric Infectious Diseases Unit, Red Cross Children's Hospital and Division of Pediatrics, School of Child and Adolescent Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa

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Abstract

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Abstract

Consensus definitions of pediatric sepsis clearly include viral infections, and yet most studies of sepsis in the intensive care environment specifically exclude viral infections. Viral infections are a common cause of admission to the pediatric or neonatal intensive care. They are probably underestimated, and new techniques of viral identification offer an opportunity to expand our understanding of the true impact of viral infections on critical illness in childhood. Not only are viral infections a cause of admission, but they may also constitute a significant component and risk of nosocomial infections in the pediatric intensive care unit. Specific antiviral therapies are limited, and in many cases immunization and prevention is the most effective approach to severe viral infections. With climate changes, the distribution of insect borne viral infections is changing across the world and these infections are starting to occur in new geographical areas. Attention has to be paid to the issue of protection of pediatric intensive care staff against viral infections.

Keywords

Viral sepsis - children - intensive care

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