SIRS, Sepsis, and Septic Shock Criteria

Defines the severity of sepsis and septic shock.

SIRS Criteria (≥ 2 meets SIRS definition)
Temp >38°C (100.4°F) or < 36°C (96.8°F)?
Heart Rate > 90?
Respiratory Rate > 20 or PaCO2 < 32 mm Hg
WBC > 12,000/mm>3, < 4,000/mm>3, or > 10% bands?
Sepsis Criteria (SIRS + Source of Infection)
Suspected or Present Source of Infection?
Severe Sepsis Criteria
Organ Dysfunction, Hypotension, or Hypoperfusion?
Lactic Acidosis, SBP <90 or SBP Drop >40 mm Hg of normal, etc
Septic Shock Criteria
Severe Sepsis with Hypotension, despite adequate fluid resuscitation?
Multiple Organ Dysfunction Syndrome Criteria
Evidence of ≥ 2 Organs Failing?
Patient has none of these
Check with your own hospital for its sepsis guidelines, sepsis "bundle" or sepsis algorithm. Two excellent references (PDF) come from the EMCrit website.

Posted in: Critical Care









The NNT : Quick Summaries of Evidence-Based Medicine