Table 1 Diagnostic criteria for sepsis
Diagnosis | Clinical criteria |
|---|---|
Systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) | Two or more of the following: |
- Fever (core temperature of more than 38 °C) or hypothermia (core temperature of less than 36 °C) | |
- Heart rate of more than 90 beats per minute | |
- Respiratory rate of more than 20 breaths per minute or partial pressure of carbon dioxide in arterial blood (PaCO2) of less than 32Â mm Hg | |
- Leukocytosis (white-cell count of more than 12,000 cells/μl) or leukopenia (white-cell count of less than 4,000 cells/μl) or more than 10 % immature forms (bands) | |
Sepsis | Confirmed infection and at least two SIRS criteria |
Severe sepsis | Sepsis and organ dysfunction as evidenced by arterial hypoxemia, lactic acidosis, oliguria, altered mental status, and so on |
Septic shock | Sepsis and hypotension refractory to fluid resuscitation |