Peer-reviewedCC BYFrontiers in pediatrics
Impact of malnutrition and nutritional support on infectious complications in critically ill infants and children
- 1Division of Cardiovascular Critical Care, Department of Cardiology, Boston Children’s Hospital , , ,
- 2Department of Newborn Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital , , ,
- 3Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital , , , United States
Abstract
Children with critical illness are vulnerable to nutritional deficits, which may contribute to increased susceptibility to infection, impaired immune function and delayed recovery. Optimizing nutritional support during acute illness is therefore essential to improving clinical outcomes. The complex interplay between critical illness, nutrition and infection is nuanced and requires careful consideration to minimize morbidity and mortality. In this narrative review, we synthesize current evidence and considerations regarding optimizing nutritional management to minimize infectious complications across neonatal and pediatric intensive care settings.
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BibTeX
@article{kerstein2026impact,
title = {{Impact of malnutrition and nutritional support on infectious complications in critically ill infants and children}},
author = {Jason S. Kerstein and Julia K. Weld and Daniel T. Mulhall and Jennifer J. Lee and Anastasia E. Allfather and Sarah U. Morton and Enid E. Martinez and Kimberly I. Mills},
journal = {Frontiers in pediatrics},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3389/fped.2026.1913382},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13721066},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Impact of malnutrition and nutritional support on infectious complications in critically ill infants and children
AU - Jason S. Kerstein
AU - Julia K. Weld
AU - Daniel T. Mulhall
AU - Jennifer J. Lee
AU - Anastasia E. Allfather
AU - Sarah U. Morton
AU - Enid E. Martinez
AU - Kimberly I. Mills
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/16
JO - Frontiers in pediatrics
DO - 10.3389/fped.2026.1913382
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13721066
AB - Children with critical illness are vulnerable to nutritional deficits, which may contribute to increased susceptibility to infection, impaired immune function and delayed recovery. Optimizing nutritional support during acute illness is therefore essential to improving clinical outcomes. The complex interplay between critical illness, nutrition and infection is nuanced and requires careful consideration to minimize morbidity and mortality. In this narrative review, we synthesize current evidence and considerations regarding optimizing nutritional management to minimize infectious complications across neonatal and pediatric intensive care settings.
SN - 2296-2360
ER -