Published: August 26, 2019 | Updated: July 27, 2020
Systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) criteria
Sepsis is:
Severe sepsis* is:
Septic shock is:
or
*All three clinical criteria (SIRS +, infection, organ dysfunction) must be met within six hours of each other to determine severe sepsis presentation time.
Presentation time is defined as the latest time all criteria align within six hours.
If all criteria are not met but provider documents “severe sepsis” or “septic shock,” then time of documentation becomes presentation time.
Severe sepsis
Within three hours of presentation:
Within six hours of presentation:
Septic shock
Additional documentation to meet volume status and tissue perfusion assessment can include two of the following:
Best practice/meet requirements:
Excludes that criteria from determining presentation of severe sepsis
Frequently used broad-spectrum antibiotics
Not an exhaustive list; review order sets for combination dual-therapy coverage
For questions or more information, contact your system sepsis coordinator.
Danette Culver, APRN (812) 881-0080 [email protected]