National Pediatric Sepsis Symposium 2026
Registration Opening Soon
- 22 October 2026
- 7:30 am to 5:00 pm
- Sidra Medicine Auditorium
Overview
Sidra Medicine is proud to host the National Pediatric Sepsis Symposium 2026 and bringing together healthcare professionals, clinical leaders, quality and safety experts, policymakers, and stakeholders from both the public and private healthcare sectors.
Under the theme “Delivering Reliable and Future-Ready Pediatric Sepsis Care,” the symposium will serve as a national platform to advance excellence in pediatric sepsis recognition, management, and outcomes across Qatar.
The event aims to strengthen collaboration among healthcare organizations and foster a shared commitment to improving the quality, consistency, and safety of sepsis care. Through expert presentations, panel discussions, and the exchange of practical experiences, participants will explore evidence-based approaches to early sepsis identification, timely intervention, and sustainable quality improvement. The symposium will also showcase successful local and international initiatives that have enhanced patient outcomes and reduced variability in care delivery.
A key focus of the program will be the promotion of data-driven strategies to monitor performance, measure outcomes, and support continuous improvement. By aligning stakeholders around national priorities and best practices, the symposium seeks to contribute to the development of integrated, reliable, and future-ready pediatric sepsis care pathways.
Topics/Sessions
- A Family’s Journey Through Paediatric Sepsis
- Surviving Sepsis Campaign 2026: What Every Clinician Needs to Know
Reducing Variation and Missed Sepsis: Why Children Continue to Be Missed - Implementing Sepsis Improvement Programmes
- Inauguration Ceremony- Formal inauguration of the National Paediatric Sepsis Symposium 2026
- Qatar’s National Sepsis Strategy: A Ministry of Public Health Perspective
- The New Sidra Medicine Paediatric Sepsis Guidelines: From Policy to Practice
- Phoenix Criteria for Paediatric Sepsis: Problem Solved or New Challenges?
- The Deteriorating Child: A Real Case
- Using EMR Automation and Alert Systems for Sepsis Screening
- CLABSI- to salvage the line or replace
- Antibiotic Stewardship, Pharmacy Optimisation & HAIs in Paediatric Sepsis
- Maternal Sepsis and Implications for the Neonate
- Early Identification of suspected Neonatal sepsis: A Nurse led approach beyond blood cultures.
- Sepsis in Oncology and Post-BMT Patients on Newer Immunomodulators
- Early Recognition Across the Care Continuum: Evidence and Best Practice
- Genomics, Host-Response Research & Sepsis: Where Does Qatar Stand?
Conference Objectives:
- Explain the role and clinical application of validated paediatric sepsis screening tools in early identification of at-risk patients
- Apply the Phoenix Sepsis Score to assess severity of illness and support timely clinical decision-making in paediatric patients with suspected sepsis.
- Integrate screening tools, severity scoring (Phoenix score), and management pathways to support timely and coordinated sepsis care across clinical settings
Target Audience
- Physicians
- Nurses
- Pharmacists
- Allied Health
- Dentists
Speakers
International Speakers
- Prof Luregn Schlapbach (Professor of Paediatric Intensive Care, University Children’s Hospital Zurich, Switzerland)
- Prof Enitan Carrol (Professor of Paediatric Infectious Diseases, University of Liverpool, UK)
- Dr Yasser Kazzaz (Consultant Paediatric Intensivist, Saudi Arabia)
Program Overview
| Time | Session Title/Topic | Session-Specific Learning Objectives By the end of the session, participants will be able to: |
|---|---|---|
| 0730-0800 | Registration & Networking | |
| 0800-0805 | Welcome & Opening Remarks • Introduction of symposium theme • Pediatric Sepsis as a national patient-safety priority • Sidra Medicine’s leadership role in Pediatric sepsis |
|
| 0805-0815 10 mins |
A Family’s Journey Through Paediatric Sepsis Speaker: Shaikha Al Mahmoud |
1. Describe the human impact of paediatric sepsis by reflecting on a real family experience, demonstrating enhanced understanding of the emotional, social, and clinical burden on patients and caregivers. 2. Integrate patient- and family-centered perspectives into clinical practice by linking clinical knowledge discussed during the symposium to real-life experiences of paediatric sepsis. Examine the ethical and emotional dimensions of paediatric sepsis care by identifying professional responsibilities and applying principles of compassionate, patient-centered care in clinical decision-making. |
| SESSION 1 – THE SCIENCE OF SEPSIS: NEW GUIDELINES & DEFINITIONS | ||
| 0815-0845 30 mins |
Surviving Sepsis Campaign 2026: What Every Clinician Needs to Know Speaker: Prof. Luregn Schlapbach |
1. Summarize the key changes in the 2026 SSC paediatric guidelines. 2. Identify priority recommendations for immediate clinical implementation. 3. Describe the evidence base underpinning the updated bundles |
| 0845-0915 30 mins |
Reducing Variation and Missed Sepsis: Why Children Continue to Be Missed Speaker: Prof Enitan Carrol |
1. Quantify the burden of missed sepsis in paediatric populations. 2. Identify systems and human factors driving diagnostic variation. 3. Propose evidence-based strategies to reduce missed diagnoses |
| 0915-0930 15 mins |
Implementing Sepsis Improvement Programmes Speaker: Dr. Yasser Kazzaz |
1. Describe key components of the national paediatric sepsis programme implemented in Saudi Arabia, including structure, strategies, and implementation processes. 2. Identify and analyze transferable lessons from the Saudi Arabian experience that can support guideline adoption and implementation in resource-similar healthcare settings. Interpret measurable outcome data from the national paediatric sepsis improvement initiative, including clinical and quality indicators, to evaluate impact on patient care and system performance. |
| 0930-0940 10 mins |
Questions & Answers | |
| 0940-1005 | Morning Coffee Break & Trade Stalls | |
| 1005-1020 15 mins |
Inauguration Ceremony- Formal inauguration of the National Paediatric Sepsis Symposium 2026 Speaker: Prof Ibrahim Janahi Dr. Dina Schnurman |
1. Describe the strategic priorities of Qatar’s national sepsis agenda. 2. Recognize the role of national leadership and policy in advancing paediatric sepsis care, including governance, coordination, and healthcare system alignment. 3. Explain the significance of national-level initiatives in improving sepsis outcomes, with reference to Qatar’s commitment to quality, patient safety, and population health. |
| SESSION 2- NATIONAL STRATEGY, LOCAL GUIDELINES & THE CARE CONTINUUM | ||
| 1020-1035 15 mins |
Qatar’s National Sepsis Strategy: A Ministry of Public Health Perspective Speaker: Rasmeh Al-Huneiti |
1. Describe Qatar’s national sepsis policy framework and governance structure, including key stakeholders, oversight mechanisms, and implementation pathways. 2. Outline the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) priorities for sepsis surveillance and quality reporting, including key indicators and reporting systems used to monitor performance. 3. Explain the role of national sepsis guidelines in driving system-wide improvement, including their impact on standardization of care, clinical decision-making, and patient outcomes. |
| 1035-1100 25 mins |
The New Sidra Medicine Paediatric Sepsis Guidelines: From Policy to Practice Policy Context & Opening Bedside Sepsis Screening Speakers: Dr. Manu Sundaram, Mohamad Sbeity, Gayathri Vijesh |
1. Describe the structure of the newly developed Sidra Medicine paediatric sepsis guidelines, including key updates aligned with the 2026 Surviving Sepsis Campaign (SSC) recommendations. 2. Demonstrate application of the updated bedside sepsis screening tool and escalation criteria through clinical scenarios or case-based discussion. 3. Explain the stepwise management algorithm for paediatric sepsis, from emergency department triage through to paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) management. 4. Outline the implementation strategy for the sepsis guidelines, including audit processes, performance monitoring, and staff education initiatives to support sustained practice change. |
| 1100-1125 25 mins |
Phoenix Criteria for Paediatric Sepsis: Problem Solved or New Challenges Speaker: Prof Luregn Schlapbach |
1. Explain the derivation and validation of the Phoenix sepsis score. 2. Compare Phoenix with SIRS-based and legacy definitions. 3. Critically appraise limitations of Phoenix in resource-varied and neonatal settings. |
| 1125-1145 20 mins |
The Deteriorating Child: A Real Case PHCC Pediatric Lead (Primary Care perspective) Paramedic [HMC Ambulance Lead] (Pre-hospital perspective) PEC Al Wakra Consultant (Emergency center perspective) Dr Muhammad Islam, Sidra ED (Receiving team perspective) |
1. Trace the real journey of a deteriorating child from primary care through ambulance, PED, and Sidra ED. 2. Identify critical decision points and time-to-recognition gaps across the care continuum. 3. Highlight what went well and what systemic changes could have shortened the time to treatment. 4. Agree shared referral standards and communication protocols across PHCC, HMC, PEC, and Sidra. |
| 1145-1155 10 mins. |
Questions & Answers | |
| 1155-1250 | Lunch Break, Dhuhr Prayer & Poster Viewing | |
| SESSION 3 – SYSTEMS, TECHNOLOGY & QUALITY IMPROVEMENT | ||
| 1250-1305 15 mins |
Using EMR Automation and Alert Systems for Sepsis Screening Speaker: Thanzeer Admed |
1. Describe the design of EMR-based sepsis screening algorithms and automated alerts. 2. Present performance data — sensitivity, specificity, and alert fatigue — for existing tools. 3. Discuss governance frameworks for safe clinical decision support implementation. |
| 1305-1320 15 mins |
CLABSI – to salvage the line or replace Speaker: Dr. Walid Mubarak |
1. Describe the conundrum regarding the salvage or removal of line in CLABSI. 2. Present the data on CLABSI 3. Discuss how to prevent line sepsis |
| 1320-1335 15 mins |
Antibiotic Stewardship, Pharmacy Optimization & HAIs in Paediatric Sepsis Speaker: Dr. Eman Musalmani |
1. Characterize the relationship between HAIs and sepsis outcomes 2. Outline antibiotic stewardship principles within the 2026 bundle framework. 3. Present PK/PD principles for optimizing empiric dosing in paediatric sepsis. 4. Describe pharmacy-led de-escalation and medication reconciliation protocols. |
| 1335-1345 10 mins. |
Questions & Answers | |
| 1345-1410 | Afternoon Coffee Break & Trade Stalls | |
| SESSION 4 – SPECIAL POPULATIONS, PARALLEL WITH WORKSHOPS A, B & C | ||
| 1410-1425 15 mins |
Maternal Sepsis and Implications for the Neonate Speaker: Dr. Khawla Ismail |
1. Describe the pathophysiology of maternal sepsis and transplacental effects on the foetus and neonate. 2. Identify risk factors for neonatal sepsis following maternal infection. 3. Outline joint obstetric–neonatal sepsis care pathways and alert protocols at Sidra Medicine. |
| 1425-1440 15 mins |
Early Identification of suspected Neonatal sepsis: A Nurse-led approach beyond blood cultures Speaker: Thea Marie Rivera Robleza |
1. Critically appraise current biomarkers (CRP, PCT, IL-6) and novel omics approaches for neonatal sepsis. 2. Discuss the role of rapid molecular diagnostics and metagenomics in diagnosis. 3. Address the applicability and limitations of the Phoenix score in the neonatal context. |
| 1440-1455 15 mins |
Sepsis in Oncology and Post-BMT Patients on Newer Immunomodulators Speaker: Dr. Shaikha Al Qahtani |
1. Define the unique pathophysiology of sepsis in immunocompromised paediatric patients. 2. Discuss the impact of newer immunomodulators — checkpoint inhibitors, CAR-T, JAK inhibitors — on sepsis presentation and response. 3. Present evidence-based modifications to standard sepsis bundles for oncology and post-BMT patients |
| 1455-1510 15 mins |
Early Recognition Across the Care Continuum: Evidence and Best Practice Speaker: Prof Enitan Carrol |
1. Present evidence on time-to-recognition and outcomes across care settings. 2. Define the integrated model of sepsis recognition spanning primary care, pre-hospital, and ED. 3. Propose quality metrics for measuring pathway effectiveness across the continuum. |
| 1510-1525 15 mins |
Genomics, Host-Response Research & Sepsis: Where Does Qatar Stand? Speaker: Dr. Andres Lopez |
1. Outline the role of host-genomics and transcriptomics in understanding sepsis endotypes. 2. Present Qatar-based and regional research initiatives in paediatric sepsis. 3. Discuss the translational pathway from genomic discovery to bedside stratified therapy. Identify opportunities for Qatar to lead or collaborate in international sepsis research networks. |
| 1525-1535 10 mins. |
Questions & Answers | |
| PARALLEL WORKSHOPS | ||
| 1410-1535 1.5 hrs |
Session A Point-of- Care Ultrasound (POCUS) in Paediatric Sepsis Facilitator: Dr. Muhammad Islam |
1. Identify POCUS applications in sepsis: cardiac function, fluid responsiveness, IVC collapsibility, lung ultrasound. 2. Perform a structured RUSH protocol examination on a simulator. 3. Integrate POCUS findings into real-time hemodynamic decision-making. Discuss the limitations and pitfalls of POCUS in paediatric populations |
| Session B Phoenix Criteria & Sepsis Screening in Practice Facilitators: Prof. Luregn Schlapbach, Dr. Manu Sundaram |
1. Calculate the Phoenix Sepsis Score for a series of real paediatric case scenarios. 2. Compare Phoenix with prior screening tools and current local triggers. 3. Design a unit-level screening algorithm incorporating Phoenix. 4. Identify patient populations where Phoenix has known limitations |
|
| Session C Precision Hemodynamics in Pediatric Sepsis: From Physiology to Practice Facilitators: Dr. Elhindi Eltaki Prof Ikram Haque |
1. Recognize cardiovascular dysfunction in paediatric sepsis. 2. Use functional echocardiography and cardiac output monitoring to assess cardiac function. 3. Integrate hemodynamic monitoring into septic shock management |
|
| FINAL SESSION – CLOSING PANEL DISCUSSION & CEREMONY | ||
| 1535-1630 55 mins |
Translating Guidelines to Everyday Bedside Practice Panel Discussion: • Prof Luregn Schlapbach • Prof Enitan Carrol • Dr Yasser Kazzaz • Dr Al Hammadi • Dr Manu Sundaram • •Mohammed Sbeity • Dr Muhammad Islam • Dr Eman Musalmani • Dr Eman Musalmani • Rasmeh Al-Huneiti • PHCC Representative • HMC Ambulance Representative • PEC Al Wakra Representative |
1. Synthesise the day’s key messages into actionable recommendations for each clinical area. 2. Address audience questions on barriers to implementation at ward, department and system level 3. Agree three institutional commitments for improving paediatric sepsis outcomes at Sidra Medicine. 4. Propose terms of reference for a standing Qatar Paediatric Sepsis Network. |
| 1630-1650 | Action Points, Acknowledgements & Certificate of Attendance Speakers: Prof. Ibrahim Janahi, Dr. Ahmed Al Hammadi |
Announce key action points and next steps; acknowledge speakers, faculty, and sponsors; distribute certificates of attendance; launch the Qatar Paediatric Sepsis Network commitment statement. |
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