Clinical Characteristics, Microbiological Profile, and Mortality Predictors in Pediatric Community-Acquired Sepsis: A Single-Center Study

Staphylococcus aureus was the leading cause of pediatric community-acquired sepsis. Critical complications such as AKI, mechanical ventilation, and a higher number of red blood cell transfusions were linked to mortality. All children with proven gram-negative sepsis were under 1.5 years, and 2 were later diagnosed with primary immunodeficiency, suggesting that early gram-negative infections in infants may reflect an underlying immune defect, as immunodeficiencies predispose to sepsis caused by unusual or atypical pathogens. Timely diagnosis and careful management are vital for better outcomes in vulnerable patients.