Table 1 Severe inflammatory response syndrome is diagnosed if two or more of these criteria are fulfilled

Body temperature of greater than 38.5°C or less than 35°C

Heart rate of greater than 90 beats per minute

Respiratory rate of greater than 20 breaths per minute or arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO₂) of less than 32 mm Hg

White blood cell count of greater than 12,000 cells/mm³ or less than 4,000 cells/mm³ or greater than 10% immature forms