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Objectives:

To compare the prevalence, resource utilization, and mortality for pediatric severe sepsis identified using two established identification strategies.

Design:

Observational cohort study from 2004 to 2012.

Setting:

Forty-four pediatric hospitals contributing data to the Pediatric Health Information Systems database.

Patients:

Children 18 years old or younger.

Measurements and Main Results:

We identified patients with severe sepsis or septic shock by using two International Classification of Diseases, 9th edition, Clinical Modification–based coding strategies: 1) combinations of International Classification of Diseases, 9th edition, Clinical Modification codes for infection plus organ dysfunction (combination code cohort); 2) International Classification of Diseases, 9th edition, Clinical Modification codes for severe sepsis and septic shock (sepsis code cohort). Outcomes included prevalence of severe sepsis, as well as …