TABLE 4.

Approaches to defining sepsis in children

Term	Term	Definition
2005 International Pediatric Sepsis Definition Consensus conference	SIRS	Meets ≥2 of the following criteria, 1 of which must be temperature or WBC count: Pyrexia (>38.5°C) or hypothermia (<36°C) Age‐dependent tachycardia or bradycardia Tachypnea or need for mechanical ventilation Abnormal WBC count or >10% bands
	Sepsis	SIRS and Suspected or confirmed infection
	Severe sepsis	Sepsis and Cardiovascular dysfunction, respiratory dysfunction, or ≥2 non‐cardiorespiratory organ system dysfunctions
	Septic shock	Sepsis and Cardiovascular dysfunction: defined as either hypotension, receipt of vasoactive medication, or impaired perfusion despite fluid resuscitation
Sepsis‐3 (adults)	Sepsis	Suspected or confirmed infection and Presence of organ dysfunction (measured by SOFA score or qSOFA score increase in ≥2 points)
	Septic shock	Suspected or confirmed infection and Cardiovascular dysfunction defined as hypotension despite fluid resuscitation requiring vasoactive medication in presence of hyperlactatemia
Operationalization for the 2020 Pediatric surviving sepsis campaign	Sepsis	Suspected or confirmed infection and Sepsis‐associated organ dysfunction or septic shock

Note. Adapted from Goldstein et al,15 Shankar‐Hari et al,16 and Weiss et al.17

Abbreviations: qSOFA, quick SOFA; SIRS, systemic inflammatory response syndrome; SOFA, sequential organ failure assessment.