Table 1.

Criteria for defining the sepsis 14

Groups	Criteria
Group 1	At least 3 sepsis‐related clinical signsa
High probable sepsis	CRP > 1 mg per 100 ml
	At least two other altered serum parameters in addition to CRPb
	Blood culture; positive or negative
Group 2	Less than three sepsis‐related clinical signsa
Probable sepsis	CRP > 1 mg per 100 ml
	At least two other altered serum parameters in addition to CRPb
	Blood culture; negative
Group 3	Less than three sepsis‐related clinical signsa
Possible sepsis	CRP < 1 mg per 100 ml
	Less than 2 other altered serum parameters in addition to CRPb
	Blood culture; negative
Group 4	No sepsis‐related clinical signsa
No sepsis	CRP < 1 mg per 100 ml
	No altered serum parameters
	Blood culture; negative

CRP: C‐reactive protein.

^aSepsis‐related clinical signs: temperature instability, apnea, need for supplemented oxygen, need for ventilation, tachycardia/bradycardia, hypotension, feeding intolerance, abdominal distension, necrotizing enterocolitis.

^bSerum parameters other than CRP: white blood cell count, absolute neutrophil count, platelet count.