SCCMPod-578 PCCM: Reducing Pediatric Sepsis Mortality in Ghana

Pediatric sepsis and septic shock are leading causes of mortality worldwide, with the burden falling disproportionately on resource-limited settings. In this episode of the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) Podcast, host Elizabeth H. Mack, MD, MS, FCCM, speaks with Vanessa Denny, MD, MS, and Justicia Amisah, MD, about their study, Pediatric Emergency Department Care for Septic Shock in Sub-Saharan Africa: Single-Center Outcomes Before-Vs.-After Implementation of a Telesimulation Program, 2023–2024, published in the July 2026 issue of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine.

Drs. Denny and Amisah discuss their longstanding collaboration with the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Ghana and their efforts to improve outcomes for children with sepsis and septic shock. At the start of the project, pediatric sepsis mortality at the hospital approached 50%. A needs assessment identified opportunities to strengthen clinician education and sepsis management, leading the team to develop a contextualized telesimulation and debriefing program tailored to the hospital's specific resources and challenges.

Using a free, low-bandwidth platform and locally produced training videos, the program provided realistic clinical scenarios designed to enhance sepsis recognition, decision-making, and team communication. Debriefing sessions focused on practical, evidence-based approaches to care that could be implemented within the local healthcare environment. After implementation of the program, mortality among children with sepsis decreased from 36% to 10%, highlighting the potential impact of targeted educational interventions in low-resource settings.

The speakers also discuss the importance of sustainable global partnerships, locally driven solutions, and scalable training models that can be adapted to other hospitals and regions. Building on these encouraging results, the team is exploring opportunities to expand the program throughout Ghana and beyond.

Listeners will gain valuable insight into pediatric sepsis care in Ghana and learn how innovative, context-specific educational initiatives can improve patient outcomes in resource-limited settings around the world.

Resources referenced in this episode:

Denny VC, Amisah J, Appiah JA, et al. Pediatric emergency department care for septic shock in Sub-Saharan Africa: single-center outcomes before-vs.-after implementation of a telesimulation program, 2023-2024. Pediatr Crit Care Med. 2026;27(7):806-815.

Denny VC, Appiah JA, Nad