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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2012 Dec 6.
Published in final edited form as: Med J Zambia. 2010;37(2):104–110.

Table 1.

Diagnostic criteria

Systemic Inflammatory
Response Syndrome (SIRS)		 Two or more of the following:
  • -

    Core temperature > 38 C or < 36 C

  • -

    Heart rate > 90

  • -

    Respiratory rate > 20 or PaCO2 < 32 mmHg or mechanical ventilation

  • -

    White cell count > 12,000/mm3 or < 4000/mm3 or > 10% bandemia
Sepsis Presence of SIRS and life-threatening infection
Severe Sepsis Presence of sepsis and sepsis-induced organ dysfunction26:
  • -

    Skin mottling

  • -

    Decreased capillary refill

  • -

    Urinary output < 0.5 mL/kg/hr

  • -

    Serum lactic acid > 1 mmol/L

  • -

    Change in mental status

  • -

    Platelets < 100,000/mL

  • -

    INR > 1.5

  • -

    Bilirubin > 70 mmol/L

  • -

    ALI/ARDS

  • -

    Cardiac dysfunction
Sepsis with hypotension Sepsis and SBP <90 or MAP <70 mm Hg
Septic shock Severe sepsis with:
  • -

    MAP < 60 mm Hg after 40–60 mL/kg IV saline or

  • -

    Need for vasopressors to maintain MAP>60
Refractory septic shock Need for dopamine > 15 mcg/kg/minute to maintain MAP > 60

MAP = mean arterial pressure = (2×DBP + SBP)/3

DBP = diastolic blood pressure; SBP = systolic blood pressure

ALI = acute lung injury; ARDS = acute respiratory distress syndrome