Better tools to spot sepsis early in children
Novel Pediatric Sepsis Criteria and Clinical Decision Support Tools
['FUNDING_R01'] · UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO DENVER · NIH-11224364
New criteria and computer tools to help doctors find and treat sepsis faster in children.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO DENVER (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (Aurora, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11224364 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
You or your child could be screened using the Phoenix Sepsis Score, a new scoring system developed from millions of records to identify organ dysfunction. The team will check how well the score worked before and after the COVID-19 pandemic and for different germs and vaccination statuses, then create “sepsis trajectories” based on score changes over time. They will test the Phoenix criteria and score prospectively in real patients, including high-risk subgroups, and build simple clinical workflows and bedside decision-support tools. The project aims to make these tools reliable and usable across hospitals so more children benefit.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Children who come to the hospital with suspected infection or signs of organ dysfunction, especially those at higher risk for severe sepsis, would be the ideal candidates.
Not a fit: Children without infections or whose conditions fall outside the Phoenix criteria may not receive direct benefit from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, these tools could help doctors recognize sepsis sooner in children and start lifesaving treatment earlier, reducing complications and deaths.
How similar studies have performed: The Phoenix criteria and Phoenix Sepsis Score were previously published in JAMA and are already a reference standard, but this project focuses on prospective validation and real-world implementation.
Where this research is happening
Aurora, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO DENVER — Aurora, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: BENNETT, TELLEN — UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO DENVER
- Study coordinator: BENNETT, TELLEN
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions: Bacterial Infections