Epidemiology and Outcome of Sepsis in Children Admitted in PICU of a Low-Middle Income Country

Monday, March 23, 2026

9:00 AM - 10:00 AM Central Time

Location: Connections Central - RST 14

Haania Rizwan, MBBS (she/her/hers)

PAK

Disclosure(s): No relevant financial relationship(s) to disclose.
Muhammad Uzair, MBBS (he/him/his)

Sindh, Pakistan

Disclosure(s): No relevant financial relationship(s) to disclose.
PB

Perah Bachal, MBBS

Research Associate, Paediatrics and Child Health
Aga Khan University

Disclosure information not submitted.
AS

Ameera Shabbir, MBBS (she/her/hers)

Sindh, PAK

Disclosure(s): No relevant financial relationship(s) to disclose.
AM

Amal Mehmood, n/a

Medical Student
Aga Khan University Hospital

Disclosure information not submitted.
ZZ

Zehra Zonesh, MBBS

Dr
Aga Khan University

Disclosure information not submitted.
Qalab Abbas, Physician (he/him/his)

Aga Khan University, PAK

Disclosure information not submitted.

Introduction: Sepsis accounts for >3 million pediatric deaths globally, with the highest burden occurring in low middle-income countries (LMICs) like Pakistan. This study aimed to examine sepsis epidemiology and describe the clinical characteristics in children admitted with sepsis in a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) in Pakistan.

Methods: Retrospective cohort study was conducted at a private tertiary hospital (Aga Khan University) in Karachi, Pakistan from September 2019 to March 2024. All children aged 1 month to 18 years meeting the international pediatric sepsis consensus conference criteria and admitted to the PICU and had complete records available were included. Clinical data was collected through chart review and analysed through StataTM. Results are present as mean with standard deviation and frequency with percentages.

Results: Among 343 children (mean age 54.2±59.5 months; 42% female) included in the study, 41.6% (143) had comorbids, the mean PRISM III score was 9.67±6.38. Glasgow Coma Scale was normal in 65%(223), mildly low (13-14) in 3.2%(11), moderately (8-12) low in 16.6%(57), and severely low ( < 8) in 16.1%(55). Mechanical ventilation was required in 43.7% (150); 47%(161) required ionotropes and 6.7% (23) received renal replacement therapy. Overall mortality was 30% (103), and mean PICU stay was 6.5±5.7 days.

Conclusions: This study highlights the high mortality of sepsis in LMICs. Improved strategies for early and accurate identification are urgently needed to guide timely interventions and reduce sepsis-related mortality in these settings