Grant: Project Grant

Background: Sepsis arises when the body's response to an infection damages its own tissues and organs. Septic shock remains one of the most significant and potentially preventable causes of death in children worldwide. The American College of Critical Care Medicine has guidelines explaining how to treat septic shock that are used worldwide. Some recommendations are supported by high-level evidence while others are not. Goal: Improve understanding of how best to use IV fluid to treat septic shock. Rationale: Fluid is important in the treatment of septic shock, but too much IV fluid is harmful for patients. Patients who don't get enough fluid do poorly too. Plan: We will do a study called a randomized controlled trial where some patients are treated with a strategy that involves less fluid and more medications to help the circulation (blood flow) while other patients will receive usual care which typically involves a lot of fluid. Knowledge generated from our research will inform clinicians how best to use IV fluid to treat pediatric septic shock, a topic of significant controversy. We will also study substances the blood that may help clinicians recognize and treat sepsis faster, as well as the people's experiences with this research.