TY - JOUR
T1 - Evaluation of early corticosteroid therapy in management of pediatric septic shock in pediatric intensive care patients
T2 - A randomized clinical study
AU - El-Nawawy, Ahmed
AU - Khater, Doaa
AU - Omar, Heba
AU - Wali, Yasser
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2016 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.
PY - 2017
Y1 - 2017
N2 - Background: Septic shock is a major healthcare problem. Adrenal insufficiency (AI) in children with septic shock is a recognized complication, yet is controversial regarding its management and effect on mortality. According to the current guidelines, children with risk factors for AI should receive a stress dose of steroids in step 3 of treatment. This study aimed to evaluate and compare early corticosteroid therapy with the traditional use of steroids among pediatric septic shock patients. Methods: This prospective randomized interventional clinical study included 3 groups of patients (32 each) and was conducted in Alexandria University pediatric intensive care unit. By protocol, the first group received steroids in step 3 of the treatment according to the current international guidelines (group A), and the second group was managed as group A and was tested for AI by adrenal stimulation test using intramuscular adrenocorticotropic hormone (cosyntropin) (group B). The third group received steroids at the start of fluid therapy (group C). A fourth group (group D) was created by adding patients from groups A and B who needed corticosteroids in the third stage of therapy according to the international protocol in 1 group. All patients were evaluated for basal serum cortisol and plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone concentrations. Results: The data showed a statistically significant shorter shock reversal time among patients receiving corticosteroids at the start of treatment compared with those who received it at the third step of treatment (P = 0.046); however, mortality was not statistically different among the groups. In addition, there was no superinfection in cases receiving early steroid therapy. Conclusions: Early use of corticosteroid in patients with septic shock might shorten the shock reversal time without increase in mortality or superinfection.
AB - Background: Septic shock is a major healthcare problem. Adrenal insufficiency (AI) in children with septic shock is a recognized complication, yet is controversial regarding its management and effect on mortality. According to the current guidelines, children with risk factors for AI should receive a stress dose of steroids in step 3 of treatment. This study aimed to evaluate and compare early corticosteroid therapy with the traditional use of steroids among pediatric septic shock patients. Methods: This prospective randomized interventional clinical study included 3 groups of patients (32 each) and was conducted in Alexandria University pediatric intensive care unit. By protocol, the first group received steroids in step 3 of the treatment according to the current international guidelines (group A), and the second group was managed as group A and was tested for AI by adrenal stimulation test using intramuscular adrenocorticotropic hormone (cosyntropin) (group B). The third group received steroids at the start of fluid therapy (group C). A fourth group (group D) was created by adding patients from groups A and B who needed corticosteroids in the third stage of therapy according to the international protocol in 1 group. All patients were evaluated for basal serum cortisol and plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone concentrations. Results: The data showed a statistically significant shorter shock reversal time among patients receiving corticosteroids at the start of treatment compared with those who received it at the third step of treatment (P = 0.046); however, mortality was not statistically different among the groups. In addition, there was no superinfection in cases receiving early steroid therapy. Conclusions: Early use of corticosteroid in patients with septic shock might shorten the shock reversal time without increase in mortality or superinfection.
KW - Corticosteroids
KW - Septic shock
KW - Shock reversal
KW - Superinfection
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U2 - 10.1097/INF.0000000000001380
DO - 10.1097/INF.0000000000001380
M3 - Article
C2 - 27798546
AN - SCOPUS:84992748423
SN - 0891-3668
VL - 36
SP - 155
EP - 159
JO - Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal
JF - Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal
IS - 2
ER -