A retrospective cohort study of prognostic factors associated with outcome in pediatric severe sepsis: What is the role of steroids?*

From this administrative database analysis, there is no evidence that steroids are associated with improved outcome in critically ill infants and children with sepsis. Although steroids may be given preferentially to more severely ill children, their use was associated with increased mortality. Clinicians should maintain equipoise on this topic pending prospective randomized clinical trials.